Lao police have arrested “Art,” the mastermind behind the abduction and burning murder of a medical equipment manager. He is being prepared for extradition back to Thailand for prosecution. Today’s funeral for the abducted victim was held amid deep mourning.
In the case of the gang who abducted Mr. Ruth Maneepraserth, or Top, 46, sales manager of a medical equipment and scientific reagent company in the Sutthisan area, his charred body was later found in Lopburi province. Police have arrested nearly the entire gang of masterminds and accomplices, except the key figure responsible for orchestrating the abduction, who is believed to have fled to a neighboring country according to investigative leads.
Most recently, on 11 March 2026, reports confirmed that Lao PDR police successfully tracked down and arrested Second Lieutenant Phumeth Ngensrichai, or Art, aged 48, the mastermind behind the abduction and burning murder of Mr. Ruth, the medical equipment sales manager. Thai authorities and the Royal Thai Police are preparing to repatriate him to Thailand for legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the body of Mr. Ruth Maneepraserth, the victim of the brutal abduction and burning, was laid in Hall 5 at Wat Thammachariyaphrom, Lak Sam Subdistrict, Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province. The funeral rites were held from 7 to 10 March 2026 at 7:00 p.m., with the cremation ceremony taking place on 11 March 2026 at 3:30 p.m.