Published on June 24, 2005

Two men were shot dead on Wednesday night in Songkhla’s Sadao district while celebrating victory after a court fight over a 50-rai rubber plantation, police said yesterday.

Police arrived at a house in tambon Thung Mor at 9.30pm to find the bodies of house owner Prakhong Kongplong, 43, and his brother-in-law Boonkiat Dissopha, 46, said Colonel Ampol Buarapporn of the Sadao police station.

Earlier in the day, Boonkiat had won a heritage dispute over the small rubber plantation in Songkhla’s Muang district. The plantation belonged to Boonkiat’s paralysed mother but Boonkiat and his relatives had been unable to find a way to peacefully share the land.

Police said Boonkiat had been drinking in celebration with Prakhong at the house when two gunmen on a motorcycle approached.

According to police reports, the first gunman fired an M16 rifle several times at the men and then the second gunman shot at them again with an 11mm pistol to ensure both were dead.

Police suspect the motive for the killings was Boonkiat’s court victory, Ampol said. He added that the police would be summoning the relatives involved in the court case as part of their investigation.

The Nation

SONGKHLA

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