Bangkok police are hunting a 50-year-old man who allegedly hired a gang of four to murder his own elderly mother so he could pay off gambling debts, the Thai media is reporting.
Niwat Suwanpraphraisi reportedly wanted to get his hands on some THB20 million that Suwanna Suwanpraphraisi, who adopted him when he was seven days old, recently made from the sale of a townhouse.
He had already squandered more than THB40 million he inherited when Suwanna’s husband died, according to Manager Online.
So he allegedly hired Komsan Bunmi, 42, Chukiat Saetan, 39, Chuangwit Sapsamruai, 26, and the latter’s 18-year-old girlfriend, “Miss A”, whose name was withheld in reports, to take care of his elderly mom.
The gang, who were paraded in front of the media at a press conference at the Metropolitan Police Bureau yesterday, used the teenager to carry out the attempted murder, police said.
On Tuesday Miss A allegedly broke into Suwanna’s house in Pom Prap Sattru Phai District – where Bangkok’s famous Golden Mount temple is located – and tried to strangle her to death using a length of electrical cabling.
But the wily old lady fought back and shouted for help. Miss A fled and was caught by local residents who heard Suwanna’s cries.
The police used information from Miss A to round up the rest of the gang, who told officers Niwat paid them THB200,000 to carry out the plot.
Suwanna told Daily News she had adopted Niwat when he was just seven days old.
He was heavily addicted to gambling and often asked her for money. When she refused, he had previously threatened her with a gun, she said.
“When I found out it was my child who hired them to kill me, I felt so bad because I loved him like he was my own child,” Suwanna said. “I never thought he would betray me like this.”
Photos of the alleged culprits and full stories in Thai are on the Manager Online and Daily News websites.
The crime reportedly happened in the same Bangkok district as the Golden Mount.
