Praween Chanklai, also known as “Kamnan Nok”, is said to have instructed the murder of a highway police officer at a gathering at his home in Nakhon Pathom on September 6th last yearth in front of more than a dozen other police officers, he was given a two-year prison sentence today.
Fifteen officers who were present at the house during the shooting and did not intervene, allegedly by a bodyguard of Chanklai, were convicted and given jail terms of 16 months to two years without suspension by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
Chanklai was found guilty of attempting to murder and ordering the shooting of Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, an inspector of Highway Police Sub-division 2 at the gathering. The officer had apparently refused Chanklai’s request for his nephew to be promoted, leading to an argument between the two men and the officer being shot dead.
The court deemed all 15 police officers, ranging from a major to master sergeant, guilty of misconduct and dereliction of duty. However, MSgt Apirak Rotepuang was acquitted.
One civilian, an assistant of Chanklai, Chatri Khieutap, was given a one year and nine month prison sentence.
Five other defendants, who are all civilians, received suspended sentences.
The gunman, Nong Thapha, was killed by the police in Kanchanaburi province the day after the murder.
The investigation of the case was led by then the deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
