THAILAND: DEATH SENTENCE FOR THREE MEN INVOLVED IN MURDER OF EX-MAYOR OF SONGKHLA MUNICIPALITY

September 7, 2016: The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for three men found guilty of murdering the former mayor of Songkhla municipality four years ago over business conflict.
The court also upheld life imprisonment for two other accomplices, Kitti Chuchuey and Sudkheed Chankhieu.
One of the three men condemned to death was Uthit Chuchuey, a former classmate of the victim, Peera Tantiseranee. The two others were identified as Paisal Noophan and Chuan Nuadmee.
The five men were accused of involvement in the killing of Peera, former mayor of Songkhla municipality over a project to build a 400 million baht worth of cable car across the Songkhla lake from Laem Son-on in the municipal area to Hoa Khao Daeng.
The incident took place on November 7, 2012 in Songkhla municipal area.
Only the prosecutor and relatives of the dead victim were present at the court when the verdict of the Supreme Court was read by a judge of Songkhla provincial court.
The five defendants are locked up in jail and could not attend the verdict-reading session. (Sources: englishnews.thaipbs.or.th, 07/09/2016)