Two Japanese nationals, believed to be members of a Yakuza gang wanted by Thai police for the murder and dismemberment of a compatriot, are in the custody of Nonthaburi police following their arrests in the north-eastern province of Nong Khai on Saturday.
The pair, 50-year-old Kato Yakuya and 33-year-old Hiroto Suzuki, are accused of murdering 47-year-old Kabashima Riosuke on March 28th. The victim was dismembered and his body parts were found in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi.
The suspects were escorted, by Bang Bua Thong police, to a warehouse in Pimonrat sub-district for a re-enactment of their alleged crime.
According to the police, the warehouse was rented by the Yakuza gang to store used car parts imported from Japan. On March 28th, the three Japanese nationals travelled by car to the warehouse to settle an 8-million baht debt, owed by the victim to Kato, but the meeting descended into disagreement, ending with the victim being shot and decapitated.
Following the murder, Kato and Hiroto attempted to flee to Laos but, at the border in Nong Khai yesterday, both were apprehended by immigration police and escorted back to Nonthaburi.
Pol Col Pruet Chamroonsat, the superintendent of Bang Bua Thong district police, said that one of the two suspects has allegedly confessed to the murder, claiming that the victim had refused to repay the debt. The other denied all the charges against him.
Main photo: Sor Wor Por FM 91 Traffic Radio
