Ex-cop throws weight around
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| The fence and the window were damaged in the fight |
Worawit “Bird” Setthadet, a motor mechanic, was assaulted by a group of three men outside his home in Makham Tia district on June 25 in a falling out over the property next door, which he also owns.
He discovered later that one of the three is the younger brother of the previous owner, identified as “Ee”, who had asked Mr Bird if she could buy back the property but failed to make payments.
Mr Bird said they attacked him after he challenged their claim to be the rightful owners. The motor mechanic said he bought the place next door to his own in 2019 after Ms Ee fell behind with mortgage payments.
He bought it from an agent for 2.3 million baht, signed a purchase agreement and started making payments early last year. Mr Bird said he had moved into the house when Ms Ee made contact last year asking if she could buy it back. She claimed she had nowhere else to live.
Mr Bird, who bought the place initially so he would have space to expand, said he agreed to sell it back to Ms Ee as he felt sorry for her. He handed over the house keys and even ended his mortgage payments.
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| Bird |
However, Ms Ee did not pay him back. Nor did she move in, instead renting out the place to a couple who argued often and damaged the property. After Mr Bird complained they moved out but Ms Ee still refused to pay even while maintaining she was now the new owner.
The saga took a new twist on June 25 when the men turned up at his house and started asking about the place next door.
“At first I thought they were customers with a vehicle for me to fix, but then they claimed to own the house next door. I was confused and said if you own it, let’s see the title deed,” said Mr Bird, who posted a warning about the incident on social media.
“They invited me outside, we started to argue and one of them kicked me in the chest,” Mr Bird said. He said his attacker was identified later as “Em”, Ms Ee’s younger brother. Surat Thani police are preparing a summons for the trio on charges of assault.
CCTV footage shows the men turning up about 7.15pm, letting themselves in the front gate, and chatting with Mr Bird. After one spots the camera, they invite Mr Bird to step outside his gate. The angle of the camera still records the attack before the men flee the scene.
When an Amarin TV reporter tried to contact Ms Ee, a former DSI officer known as Seth Ae called him back to warn him off the story. Seth Ae said he was an uncle to Mr Em, the man who attacked Mr Bird. He was aware Mr Em was likely to face police action but wanted Amarin TV to stop running the story.
Seth Ae said he worked for the DSI and was connected to police chiefs, senior military figures, and MPs. He suggested the reporter look up his history if he was in any doubt.
Later, after a clip of that conversation found its way onto a Surat Thani FB page, Seth Ae called again and told the Amarin TV reporter to take the clip down.
Mr Bird said he was worried to hear about Seth Ae’s connection to the saga and concerned for his safety. However, he also knew he was in the right, as his purchase agreement was legal and stands under the law.
DSI director-general Pol Lt Col Korawat Panprapakorn said Seth Ae had worked for the DSI but was accused of demanding bribes and making threats. He was booted out of the public service for serious misconduct.
In May 2017, he was accused of threatening parents in Nakhon Si Thammarat, who claimed their daughter was coerced by her private school teacher into buying 400,000 baht in goods from her online store.
The parents of the Prathom 4 pupil in Phrom Khiri district filed a complaint against the teacher, who was sacked. The parents also complained that Seth Ae, who claimed to be a relative of the teacher, threatened them on her behalf.
Since the initial publicity about the attack on Mr Bird, another alleged victim of Ms Ee’s dodgy financial dealings has come to light. Naruemol “Tangmo” Thongderm, an ex-friend, said Ms Ee in 2017 asked her to act as guarantor for a car loan worth 1.4 million baht. However, she failed to keep up with repayments and the company foreclosed.
Ms Ee, she said, was a gambler who took the car to be pawned. The car company sued and the dispute went to court with Ms Tangmo, as guarantor, in March forced to pay 450,000 baht. She was unable to contact Ms Ee again until a friend spotted her having a meal on May 25 in Vibhavadi district.
Ms Tangmo turned up with “other guarantors” owed money by Ms Ee. She refused to pay, but the man she was dining with, who identified himself as Seth Ae, claimed he would settle everyone’s debts. However, later he made contact with Ms Tangmo, warning her not to mess with him or he would bring his influence to bear.
Surat Thani police say they are likely to call in Seth Ae to see if he is connected to the assault.
Ex-jailbird strikes again
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| Ching Ying |
Mae Ai police arrested local man Ching Ying Saejang, 35, originally from Chiang Rai, after he fatally stabbed Wanpen Kwangta, 63, who runs a noodle shop in front of her house in Mae Mawang sub-district, and stole her gold necklace.
Ching Ying, who police say has served time on multiple occasions for attempted killing and theft, and was only recently released, attacked the woman on June 27 and fled on his motorcycle.
Ching Ying, who was later caught at a car wash shop in Fang district where he works, admitted the offence. He said he simply wanted the necklace but when Wanpen resisted and put up a fight, he grabbed a knife nearby.
Witnesses saw a masked man turn up on a motorcycle and order a drink. When she turned around he grabbed the knife, slit her throat and stab her in the back 10-11 times. As she fell to the ground, the attacker grabbed her necklace and raced off. Locals took her to hospital but she died from her injuries.
Village headman Samran Taweepan, who lives opposite, said Wanpen was a harmless soul and well-liked by everyone.
Police checked CCTV cameras and traced the killer’s escape route to a spot 2km away where he discarded the knife, and another spot about 20km away where he burnt the shirt he was wearing. He also took the necklace to a store in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai where they bought it for 18,000 cash.
Video taken by police, who recovered the items, show them approaching Ching Ying at the car wash and grabbing him in an arm lock. He said he took the cash to pay off his debts, including an informal loan and gambling debts.
Permpol Kwangta, 27, the victim’s son, said his mother died a cruel and unnecessary death. In tears, Mr Permpol said his wife was six months’ pregnant. He regretted that his mum would never get to see the face of her grandchild. Police charged Ching Ying with intentional killing and robbery causing death.
That BMW’s really mine
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| Victims complain to the DSI over the car con |
Krittanu Liangsakul, owner of a vehicle rental company, complained on June 28 about Poompurin “Nor” Wisitwachira, 26, who leased many of his high-end vehicles, claiming they were to ferry about VIPs.
However, he found out later that Mr Nor tried to sell them, forcing him to chase down the vehicles and reclaim them. He also left him out of pocket after failing to keep up with payments.
Mr Krittanu was accompanied to the CSD by victims of the scam including Niyanuch Kanchanamongkol, 32, who “bought” a BMW from Mr Nor only to find it was owned by the hire company. Reports say the scam netted 30 or so victims and has led to damages of 400 million baht.
Ms Niyanuch said she was keen to buy a car and met Nor, who claimed he was a dealer. He offered her a BMW at 20 per cent less than market price. He claimed he picked it up cheaply at an auction run by the Legal Execution Department. However, she would have to buy in cash, and he would send the paperwork later.
She wanted the car badly so fell for his story, but after transferring the money was contacted by rental company, which took the vehicle back. She tried to reach Mr Nor without success.
Mr Krittanu said Mr Nor had rented many tens of vehicles from his firm. At first he paid on time, but about 2-3 months ago started falling behind, and ended up owing the firm 4.5 million baht.
Another 15 car hire companies who also leased him vehicles have joined the complaint. The CSD is preparing to issue a summons for the young man.
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