A woman is being held in police custody on suspicion that she may be involved in the mysterious deaths of eight people, some of whom are thought to have been poisoned with cyanide.

The suspect, identified by police as “Sararat”, aka “Am”, was apprehended by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at the government complex in the Chaeng Wattana area, after the Criminal Court had issued a warrant on premeditated murder charges in connection with the death of “Siriporn”.

Police said that they found cyanide in Sararat’s house and an autopsy showed traces of cyanide in the body of Siriporn.

The suspect has denied all the charges. She is due to be taken court tomorrow, when the police will seek permission to detain her longer for questioning.

The victim’s daughter recently lodged a complaint with Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police, seeking an investigation into the death of her mother at a gas station in Ratchaburi province, because she suspected that her mother’s death might have been the result of foul play.

According to the daughter’s statement to the police, her mother got to know Sararat, who is reported to be the wife of a police officer, through social media more than three months ago.

Recently, both women went on a trip and Siriporn collapsed at the gas station. An ambulance took her to hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Her daughter said that she later discovered that her mother’s personal belongings, including cash, gold ornaments and cell phone, had disappeared.

Pol Gen Surachate told the media today (Tuesday) that police had received complaints from relatives of six dead victims in Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi who had connections with the suspect. Some had gone with the suspect on merit-making trips and later collapsed and died, often in the presence of the suspect.

He said that police have received autopsy reports on three victims. The 11th victim narrowly survived the attempt on her life after she took a cough sweet offered by the suspect during their appointment. The victim was rushed to the hospital and treated by a doctor, he said, adding that she is now a key prosecution witness.

According to the CSD, there are eight mysterious deaths, all connected to the suspect. The cases are:

• “Fa” who died on December 13^th, 2020 at her residence in Nakhon Pathom
• “Surat” who died on January 16^th, 2021 at her residence in Kanchanaburi province
• Pol Cpt “Kanda” who died in Nakhon Pathom on August 10^th, 2022
• “Chantharat” who died at her residence in Phetchaburi on August 15^th, 2022
• “Kanikar” who died at a gas station in Ratchaburi on September 12^th, 2022
• “Suthisak” who died at his residence in Udon Thani on March 12^th this year
• Pol Maj “Nipa” who died in Nakhon Pathom on April 1^st this year
• “Siriporn” who died at a gas station in Ratchaburi on April 14^th