The national police chief has vowed that formal charges, including criminal association, will be filed against all seven people in the house of Sunthorn Wilawan, mayor of Prachin Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), if there is sufficient evidence.
The seven people, including Sunthorn, former deputy public health minister in the General Chavalit administration, are now in police custody for questioning after Chaimet Sitthisanitphong, a former PAO member and step son of Sunthorn, was shot dead in the house last night.
Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, the national police chief, said today that police are in the process of collecting evidence and are yet to file any charges.
He confirmed, however, that if there is evidence implicating anyone of involvement in the murder, charges would be filed against them, including the criminal associations.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that it would be premature for him to speculate about the motive behind the homicide or to ask Kanokwan Wilawan, daughter of Sunthorn and former deputy education minister under the Bhumjaithai party banner, about the incident.
He also took noted that the M16 assault rifle found at Sunthorn’s house is not a weapon a civilian is allowed to own.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj-Gen Pumin Singhasut, the Prachin Buri police commander, claimed that the gunman is an aide of Sunthorn.
