Rogue officer kills shop-owner for gold
An elderly gold-shop owner was shot repeatedly and killed yesterday by a policeman desperate for cash.
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An allegedly cash-strapped rogue police officer shot and killed a 74-year-old Phanom Sarakham gold-shop owner yesterday morning before making off with 63 necklaces.
Police Sgt Major Wanchai Penbuppha, 46, was arrested less than an hour later, according to Provincial Police Region 2 chief Lt General Jongrak Juthanont. A crash-helmet-wearing robber was caught on closed-circuit cameras bursting in to the Mae Kim Lee gold shop while owner Bong-kot Nontawat read a newspaper. The recording shows Bongkot being shot several times as he attempts to snatch a gun held by the robber. Police said the robber grabbed 63 gold necklaces before fleeing on a motorcycle. Jongrak said a passer-by followed the robber and later alerted police to his whereabouts. A police patrol discovered Wanchai acting suspiciously at the location identified by the witness. Police apprehended Wanchai as he was changing into his police uniform. His motorcycle was half covered in black tape and police claimed he had disguised it before the robbery. Officers recovered necklaces nearby and clothing allegedly worn by the suspect. Jongrak said Wanchai claimed he had been tracking the robber. He allegedly confessed to the robbery and shooting after being shown the gold-shop security recording. According to Jongrak, Wanchai carried out the robbery because his family was in financial difficulty. "He will be charged with robbery and murder and now faces the death penalty," Jongrak said. Police had retrieved 50 of the stolen necklaces.
The Nation CHACHOENGSAO
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