POLICE HOLD PAIR AFTER ABDUCTION, MURDER OF SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER

Two men have been arrested in connection with the abduction of an alleged
drug trafficker who was found dead in Pathum Thani in December last year.

Police believe Suriya Jindamart, 38, and Pattarapong Puangsri, 35, belong
to a crime syndicate.

The two suspects allegedly told police investigators that they also had a
hand in two other murders which took place in November last year and March
this year.

They were arrested in the Lat Phrao area on Wednesday.

Found in their possession were a 9mm pistol, 12 rounds of ammunition,
mobile phones and business cards of local and national politicians.

Among the cards was that of Sakorn Busayawadee, an Udon Thani provincial
councillor allegedl to have masterminded the murder of a businesswoman in
Bangkok last month.

The two suspects were charged in connection with the abduction and murder
of Chakrit Purathananont, who was last seen on Dec 6 last year when he
drove off in his car with more than three million baht in cash.

Police said the two suspects denied the murder charge and implicated an
official of the Narcotics Control Board known only as ``Sergeant Niew''.

Mr Suriya allegedly told police he was hired for 300,000 baht to drive the
kidnappers around. He claimed Chakrit was killed by Sgt Niew, who was known
to be a close aide to a former Democrat MP.

The suspect also said Chakrit was involved in a drug racket in the Klong
Toey area.

Mr Pattarapong, meanwhile, allegedly told police he was hired for 120,000
baht to look out for Chakrit.

He identified his contacts as Sgt Niew and two other men called Bang Mat
and Khaek. He also said the three ran a drug racket in Bangkok.

Mr Pattarapong claimed that after Chakrit was captured by the gang, he was
ordered to take the victim's car and abandon it in the Ekkamai area. The
others drove off with Chakrit in another car.

Police said Mr Pattarapong also admitted his involvement in two other
murder cases.

One involved a 30-year old woman who was kidnapped in Uthai Thani in
November last year, and the other two drug couriers from the North.

Mr Pattarapong denied killing any of the victims; saying he served as a
driver in the woman's abduction case, and that it was Mr Suriya who shot
the two drug couriers.

Police were working to establish the identity of ``Sgt Niew''.