Chiang Rai News
Death Row Drug Lord Naw Kham Withdraws Guilty Plea for Appeal
YUNNAN – Naw Kham the convicted Myanmar drug-lord withdrew his guilty plea on appeal in court on Thursday after he received a death sentence for the murder of 13 sailors on the Mekong River last year.
The Higher People’s Court of Kunming, in the capital of the China’s southwestern Yunnan Province, heard Naw Kham and five associates deny the charges of masterminding the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in October 2011. He also denied being the leader of the criminal gang.
The six had earlier pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping, drug smuggling and ship hijacking at a previous hearing on Sept. 21.
“They [his subordinates] did it. I had no idea at that time,” Naw Kham told the court on Thursday. “I didn’t ask them to [kill those Chinese sailors].” His Hong Kong-based lawyer argued that murdering the group was “beyond Naw Kham’s original intention.”
Naw Kham is accused of overseeing the kidnapping and murder on the Mekong River on Oct. 5 last year after the 13 sailors allegedly refused to pay protection money. The subsequent public outcry in China led to the establishment of joint patrols of the riparian countries—Laos, Thailand and Burma—under Chinese leadership.
Naw Kham was captured in Laos on April 25 with his associates apprehended in Shan State, Burma, during the course of the spring. Naw Kham was then extradited to China on May 10.
“I am angry about his words, but I feel sad more,” said He Xilun, the owner of one of the ships raided by Naw Kham last year. “You can never bring back those gone.”
He, who lost his brother and sister-in-law in the attack, told The Irrawaddy that even his 56-year-old mother has to work days and nights after the family lost its main breadwinner. “The cost of living [in China] is high and our life has become much worst without them.”
Last month, the Intermediate People’s Court of Kunming sentenced Naw Kham and three of his subordinates to death. Two others were also sentenced; one received the death penalty suspended for two years, and the other a prison term.
Those convicted were also ordered by the court to pay compensation to victims’ families totaling six million yuan (US $960,000). He said the compensation was “too little.”
Observers close to the case suspect that the truth behind what happened on the Mekong in October has not yet been unveiled. “Naw Kham is not the direct killer. He is an insider, but not the chief plotter for sure,” said Yin Hongwei, an investigative journalist in China.
Questions remain over the role of Thai soldiers accused by Chinese authorities of being involved in at least one of the murders. Thai and Chinese officials were cooperating on their prosecution, the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua quoted Nie Tao, a member of the Chinese investigative team, in September.
“It is good that the Chinese police brought him back, but they should not make any conclusion rashly,” added Yin. “[The police and media] should wait for the result of Thailand’s trial on the other nine soldiers and see what they say.”
“The evidence suggests that the Thai security forces were involved,” said Sunai Chulapongsathorn, chairman of the Thailand Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, which conducted its own inquiry into the killings earlier this year.
Reports in Chinese media suggest that the accused Thai soldiers already stood in Chiang Rai trial for their involvement on Nov. 23, although the verdict has not yet been officially announced.
A court official told the Chinese state-run People’s Daily newspaper that one of the Chinese sailors Naw Kham was convicted of killing was in fact the victim of the Thai soldiers. The Thai government will reportedly review the case on Friday or Monday to decide the fate of the accused.
At present, the nine soldiers are being detained in a military camp, a Thai military was quoted by the People’s Daily. Only if they refuse to cooperate with the investigation or tried to escape would the police arrest them, he added.
“Big gangs that are capable of plotting such brutal massacre in Golden Triangle area include the armyof northern Thailand, the Burmese army, theBananWaMilitary Region, the Golden Kapok Casino Group,” another Chinese journalist based in Yunnan who has followed the case from the beginning told The Irrawaddy under condition of anonymity.
“There are several, and compared to any of those, Naw Kham is just a bug.” By ECHO HUI / THE IRRAWADDY
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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