The prosecution has filed indictments with the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases against former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn and five co-accused for the murder of an elder brother of a Bangkok South Criminal Court judge in February, Office of the Attorney General spokesman Prayuth Phetkhun said on Monday.
Mr Prayuth said the case was filed on Monday after Jessada Arunchaipirom, director-general of the Department of Corruption Litigation, and his deputy Siriya Intamara agreed with a recommendation by a working committee handling the case that the six suspects be arraigned on six charges.
The charges stem from the abduction and murder of Wirachai Sakuntaprasoet, the elder brother of Bangkok South Criminal Court judge Phanida Sakuntaprasoet, allegedly as part of a plot to force her to drop an indictment against Pol Lt Col Banyin in a case involving the fraudulent transfer of a huge number of shares.
Wirachai was kidnapped by four men outside the court on Feb 4. The 70-year-old was later killed and his body burned and the remains tossed into the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan.
Pol Lt Col Banyin and the five other suspects - Manat Thapnin, Narongsak Pomchan, Chatchai Menkun, Prachawit Sithongsuk and Pol Senior Sgt Maj Thongchai Wachisatcha - are accused of the kidnapping and murder of Wirachai.
The six are charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy to detain a person resulting in his death, threatening a state official, illegal assembly, demanding a ransom and abduction.
Pol Lt Col Banyin is additionally charged with illegally wearing a police uniform during the abduction.
The prosecution decided not to indict a seventh, unnamed suspect in this case for lack of evidence.
Mr Prayuth said the prosecution asked the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to combine whatever penalty is handed down on Pol Lt Col Banyin in this case with the eight years' jail sentence given him in March by the Bangkok South Criminal Court. In that case he was found guilty of forging documents to set up the transfer of 300 million baht worth of shares owned by his friend, businessman Chuwong Sae Tang, to himself and two accomplices.
The prosecution also asked the court to combine the penalty in the Wirachai murder case with whatever penalty is handed down on Pol Lt Col Banyin by the Phra Khanong Criminal Court in another case. He is charged with murdering Chuwong Sae Tang, the owner of the shares in the previous case. This case is still before the Phra Khanong Criminal Court.
Mr Prayuth said all six accused are already being held in detention.