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Published on December 28, 2007

Bangkok's Phra Khanong Court also ordered the murderer Phakhinai Janwiman, 47, who was working as a chauffeur at Novotel Bang Na Hotel, to pay Bt1.4 million compensation, inclusive of funeral expenses, to the family of his victim Sukanda Mekloy, the hotel financial officer.

The victim's father said he would appeal the sentence as it was too light for what Phakhinai had done to his daughter.

At 10am yesterday, the court read the guilty verdict against Phakhinai for murder, robbery leading to death, and concealing a corpse.

The evidence during the trial had convinced the court beyond doubt that Phakhinai strangled Sukanda before making off with the hotel's money and her valuables while he was driving her to deposit the hotel's receipts at a commercial bank on Srinakarin Road.

Phakhinai dumped Sukan-da's body in a roadside ditch off Chalermphrakiart Soi 7 in Prawet district's Nong Bon area. Her body was found a few days later.

Phakhinai was arrested by police at a plantation in Chon Buri's Bor Thong district.

The court sentenced Phakhinai to death but then commuted the punishment to life on grounds that his confession proved useful to the case.

Besides paying Bt539,797.30 to the hotel and Bt1.4 million compensation, Phakhinai was also ordered to reimburse the victim's family for Sukanda's valuables worth Bt20,500 that he stole.

The victim's father, Ratchada Mekloy, 48, and his wife Sumalee Nimlaok, 50, along with six relatives were present at the verdict reading. Ratchada cried after hearing the life sentence handed down to Phakhinai.

Ratchada said they had been waiting for nine months and could accept the ruling, although they were not entirely satisfied because they had lost their dear daughter who was the family's breadwinner.

"After this I'll consult with my seniors and the public prosecutor for one more time about appealing because the life sentence as not adequately justified for what he did to my girl," he said.

 The Nation