The convoluted case of the slain Olympian continues to grow more complicated.
Santi Tongsem, a 28-year-old lawyer previously implicated in the murder of Olympic crack-shot Jakkrit Panichpatikum, handed himself at the Metropolitan Police Bureau on Tuesday after another suspect accused him of arranging the hit.
Santi handed himself to the police after a warrant for his arrest was issued Sunday night. Previously, Santi was accused by another suspect, Warapanpuri Montriarikul, who claimed she introduced Santi to Jakkrit’s mother-in-law who police said gave him THB1.2 million to arrange the murder.
Santi, together with a troop of six lawyer friends, denied all charges. His only connection to Warapanpuri and the sniper who fired the shots that killed Jakkrit, he said, is because they were both his clients. The lawyer also disavowed CCTV footage from Seriruk Hospital that showed a meeting between him and 70-year-old Surang Duangchinda, Jakkrit’s mother-in-law.
“I honestly don’t know where this hospital is, and I haven’t been to the place before,” Santi said. “I don’t know Jakkrit, nor have I met any of his relatives.”
Santi was released on a THB500,000 bond yesterday by Min Buri officials after they deemed him not to be a flight risk, Khaosod and Matichon reported.
