Three suspects arrested 'for killing cannabis seller and stealing luxury watch'
Three suspects were arrested for allegedly murdering a cannabis seller and stealing his luxury watch in Thailand.
Supakorn Jeensri, 27, clashed with cannabis vendor Chaisit Khantha, 34, who accused him of taking his limited-edition Nixon 2PAC Time Teller worth around 260 USD.
The pair confronted each other at a housing estate in Bangkok on June 14.
But the argument escalated into violence when the vendor allegedly insulted his parents during the row.
The suspect was said to have pulled out a knife and plunged it into Chaisit's chest.
He then allegedly called his friends - Kritthanat Sriphumchai, 24, and Chayaphon Chaisri, 27 - to stuff Chaisit into a plastic storage box and bury him under in a planter at the indoor cannabis farm.
Police combed through the property the next morning after Chaisit's relative, Phuwanai Sukthong, 38, claimed to have witnessed the alleged murder. He said he was threatened into silence but filed a report with the police anyway.
Officers combed through the scene, finding that the second floor room was locked from the inside with the air conditioner still running.
They broke down the door to investigate, and the cannabis plants in disarray, and soil and Chaisit's necklace on the floor next to the planter box.
They then searched the planter before discovering Chaisit curled up inside a blue plastic crate with a single stab wound.
Police said they identified the suspects as Chaisit's friends who confronted him over a personal dispute.
Police Lieutenant General Sayam Boonsom, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed that all three have been arrested.
He said: 'The Criminal Court approved arrest warrants for all three suspects on charges of jointly committing intentional murder, concealing a corpse, and carrying weapons in public without reasonable cause.
'Supakorn was apprehended in possession of a knife and clothing bearing bloodstains.
'The two other suspects were arrested separately in Bangkok and Pathum Thani.'
During questioning, Supakorn claimed he had originally intended to resolve a dispute with the deceased after being accused of stealing his watch.
He allegedly admitted to the stabbing after Chaisit insulted his parents. He also claimed he had carried out the alleged killing and concealment of the body alone, but police said they do not believe him.
Officials said the suspects remain in custody for further legal proceedings.
