Police believed Phansaeng "Bass" Watbangbumru, 34, was killed because of his work or over a personal dispute.

Foundation chairman Leena Jangjanya asserted a real-estate company murdered her colleague as a result of his helping a 70-year-old woman allegedly cheated out of land. The foundation helps the less fortunate with legal difficulties.

Leena took Phansaeng's body to police headquarters for bathing rites where she demanded action from national chief Seripisut Temiyavej.

She and Phansaeng were assisting Malee Thongsuk, 70, with her property dispute. The story was seen on Saturday on the Channel 5 programme Soo Khadi Style Leena Jang, or fighting legal battles Leena-Jang style.

Leena asserted she herself had been threatened with defamation action if she broadcast the dispute. She received threatening and abusive telephone calls, too.

Malee mortgaged five-rai of Bang Bua Thong land in Nonthaburi to the real-estate company for Bt200,000.

After it allegedly failed to pay her the full amount she involved the foundation.

Phansaeng suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Police retrieved several spent shells, a mobile telephone and a tape recorder from the scene.

Stepfather Panya Hehasuk said Phansaeng lent money to the less well off and helped them with legal disputes.

He had been involved in a disagreement with motorcycle-taxi riders in the soi, he added.

Phansaeng was studying second-year law at Siam University, too.