Appeals denied in sugar mill murder case

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Appeals denied in sugar mill murder case
By KESINEE TAENGKIEW
The Nation 2011-07-14

The Appeals Court yesterday upheld a life term and two death sentences on three men for their involvement in the 1999 murder of Australian auditor Michael Wansley. Another accused, Kasetthai sugar mill owner Pradit Siriviriyakul, was acquitted after the court gave him the benefit of doubt.

The court yesterday read the verdict in the case against Kasetthai executives - Boonpan Suthiwiriwan, Somchoke Suthiwiriwan, and Pradit and their accomplice Sompong Buasakul - for masterminding the murder of 58-year-old Wansley. He was shot dead on March 10, 1999, while on his way to audit the books of the sugar mill in Nakhon Sawan.

The indictment said Pradit hired Boonpan, Somchoke, Sompong and hit man Somchai Jaihao to kill Wansley because he had uncovered financial irregularities in the business, which was in the process of debt restructuring. Somchai has been tried and given a life sentence by Nakhon Sawan Court.

On September 5, 2006, the lower court sentenced Boonpan to life, condemned Somchoke and Sompong to death and acquitted Pradit. The public prosecutor and co-plaintiffs then submitted an appeal to get Pradit punished while the three other defendants appealed for acquittal.

The Appeals Court was told Boonpan arranged for a motorcycle and a gun, while Somchoke and Sompong helped the alleged gunmen Somchai and Pichet Khaewsamduang (who was acquitted by a lower court in a separate trial) in fleeing to Bangkok. The Appeals Court upheld the lower-court rulings handing down a life sentence to Boonpan and death sentences to the other two men.

Finding weakness in evidence against Pradit, the Appeals Court upheld his acquittal by the lower court on benefit of doubt.

All defendants were present at the verdict reading yesterday. Boonpan was sick and in a wheelchair, while Pradit had dozens of people come to the court to give him moral support.