The Metropolitan Police Chief is confident that evidence links "Srawi" and "Benyapha" to hiring a team to kidnap and kill "Ruth". The young manager, with suspicions of hiring more than ten people, suggests the motive for the killing may be more than just an affair. The contract price might reach as high as 2.8 million baht. Police are intensifying their investigation.
This concerns the case where a group of assailants kidnapped and killed Mr. Ruth Maneeprasert, nicknamed “Top,” a manager of a company importing and selling medical equipment, on 18 Feb. Police have since requested the court to issue arrest warrants for eight suspects charged with jointly coercing and detaining, arresting seven so far who acted as the kidnapping team, with one still at large and believed to have fled across the border into Laos.
Subsequently, investigators concluded their inquiry, compiling evidence including DNA test results, and requested the Criminal Court to issue additional arrest warrants for two suspects accused of hiring the murder: Mr. Srawi and Ms. Benyapha, who were arrested at 23:00 on 5 Mar. Investigations indicate that Mr. Srawi is believed to be the mastermind or boss behind hiring the kidnapping team, while Ms. Benyapha is suspected to have been involved in planning the incident.
Recently, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said that upon arrest, both suspects consulted lawyers to prepare their defense. Authorities will review the case file to ensure thoroughness and precision. Nonetheless, the court’s approval of the arrest warrants demonstrates sufficient and credible evidence that the suspects committed the crime.
Forensic evidence is adequate to initially prosecute ten suspects, as the main culprits in this case are Mr. Srawi and Ms. Benyapha. Whether there are additional accomplices remains under investigation.
However, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner acknowledged there are other suspected motives beyond just issues of infidelity and family conflict. Since over ten people were hired to participate in the crime, the circumstances strongly suggest a motive more complex than a mere affair.
Meanwhile, Pol. Maj. Gen. Kiattikul Sonthen, Chief of Metropolitan Police Division 2, revealed that Mr. Srawi and Ms. Benyapha continue to deny the charges, admitting only that it was a family issue. However, police possess crucial evidence in the form of"financial transaction trails."This aligns with reports that the hiring cost was as high as 2,800,000 baht. Although the exact amount has not been disclosed, authorities confirm there is evidence of real money transfers.
Additionally, reports indicate the incident began when the daughter of a woman involved in an affair with Mr. Ruth told a maid about the relationship. The maid then passed this information to Mr. Srawi, provoking anger that led to planning the crime. Ms. Benyapha reportedly played the role of investigating Mr. Ruth’s identity before the attack.:The police will continue to expand their investigation into this matter.