A Samut Sakhon MP accused of gunning down a local politician has refused to submit his gun and pickup truck to police for examination.
Democrat MP Khanchit Tapsuwan is the prime suspect in the Christmas Day murder of Samut Sakhon Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorTor) president and Pheu Thai Party member Udon Kraiwatnussorn.
An arrest warrant was issued on Dec. 26 for Khanchit in connection with the murder. However, Khanchit is privilege to parliamentary immunity while the House is in session which protects him from prosecution.
Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo said that a written request to the House of Representatives for Khanchit to face indictment for pre-meditated murder will be submitted today.
Ten witnesses are alleged to have seen Khanchit gun down Udon in a toilet at a gas station in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district, The Bangkok Post reported.
He allegedly shot the victim eight times in the head with a .40-caliber pistol. Udon was said to have been visiting the gas station on his way to a wedding.
Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 7 Harnphon Nijwibool told The Nation that in addition to eyewitness testimony, there is security camera footage showing a man resembling Khanchit firing at Udon and a police sketch obtained from eyewitnesses “proving that the suspect’s identity matched that of Khanchit.”
The Nation also reported that there is new DNA evidence that investigators hope to compare to Khanchit’s DNA.
Lt Gen Hanphon also said that Khanchit is the owner of the Toyota pickup truck the killer drove to the scene and a .40-caliber Glock pistol.
Khanchit has refused police requests to hand over the pistol and the vehicle, TANN reported.
He claimed his lawyer is taking care of the matter.
National police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong said that Khanchit should be turned over to police instead of using his parliamentary immunity.
Alluding to a possible motive, Lt Gen Hanphon said, “The victim and the suspect were often seen nagging each other when they met. This could have multiplied their political rivalry, leading to the conclusion.”
Meanwhile, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has sent a team to protect the witnesses, The Bangkok Post reported.
CSD chief Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath said he assigned the protection team after receiving a request from the victim’s younger brother, Udom Krawatnussorn.
Udom claimed he worried for the witnesses’ safety as Khanchit is an “influential figure” in Samut Sakhon.
