The court has approved arrest warrants for a district officer, an assistant village headman, and three others—five suspects in total—who forcibly took a man from his home, beat him to death, and secretly buried his body. One of the suspects, unable to bear the pressure, confessed to the incident and revealed the details.
On 29 Dec 2025, Ms. Narakmon Chujan, 22, appealed to the media for help to find Mr. Songpol Thararuk, 49, who was abducted by a group of five people using a vehicle and armed with guns. They forcibly took him from his home in Tha Chana Subdistrict, Tha Chana District, Surat Thani Province, during the early hours of 26 Dec and have since been unreachable. When questioned, the group claimed they had released him in Samo Thong Subdistrict. Relatives filed a complaint at Tha Chana Police Station. Police have questioned the suspects but found no progress, while continuing a large-scale search for Mr. Songpol.
Authorities later received a tip that an unidentified male body was found in a water pit behind house number 93, Village No. 1, Samo Thong Subdistrict, Tha Chana District, Surat Thani Province. Believed to be Mr. Songpol, the discovery was reported to superiors who proceeded to the scene. Relatives confirmed the deceased was Mr. Songpol. Initial examination showed bruising around both eyes, a torn wound on the forehead, blunt-force injuries, and abrasions on the chest along with multiple bruises across the body. The body was sent for forensic examination at Surat Thani Hospital to determine the cause of death.
Police Colonel Paisan Sangthep, Deputy Commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police, stated that five suspects—comprising one district officer, one assistant village headman, and three volunteer defense corps members—were previously questioned. They denied charges but admitted to taking the deceased from his home on suspicion of stealing amulets. Upon further inquiry, they found the deceased was not guilty and returned him home, leading to their release. Police expedited gathering victim statements to file an arrest warrant request at Chaiya Provincial Court, expected by the afternoon.
Regarding the case, Mr. Chumpot Wannachartsiri, Governor of Surat Thani, said that following media reports, he ordered Mr. Sanuan Thongsri, Tha Chana District Chief, to report facts. It is initially believed that the perpetrators include a district officer and an assistant village headman. The district officer was ordered to assist administration at the provincial office but is currently under police investigation. If granted bail, he must report back immediately. The assistant village headman’s case falls under the district chief’s authority.
Later reports indicated all suspects were separately interrogated for over 10 hours. One confessed that on the incident day, he and three others—former drug rehab camp attendees from Chaiya District who now assist local officials—accompanied the district officer to a funeral of a relative of Mr. Jeab, the assistant village headman and nephew of Mr. Songpol. During drinking, Mr. Jeab claimed his amulets were stolen and suspected Mr. Songpol. The district officer then joined in to forcibly bring Mr. Songpol. When he resisted, they assaulted him repeatedly until he died. They then planned to conceal the body, driving around unsuccessfully before Mr. Jeab suggested burying it in a pit dug for trash. Along with two others, they buried the body, while the district officer and Mr. Jeab drank nearby.
At 14:00 today, Chaiya Provincial Court approved arrest warrants for all five suspects: Mr. Weerayut Sangskul, 44, district officer of Tha Chana; Mr. Weerachai Khanphet, 38, assistant village headman; Mr. Noprin Khongthong, 30; Mr. Theerayut Ketchu, 36; and Mr. Warakorn Thongkham, 27. They face charges of intentional joint murder, torture, enforced disappearance, unlawful detention leading to death, breaking and entering with violence or threats at night, and jointly concealing or destroying a corpse. They have been handed over to police for further investigation and legal proceedings.