Suicide by alleged rogue policeman

Sergeant Jaroon Kaewkool was found lying dead in his shrimp farm in Trang province with a gunshot wound to the heart. His sister Chulee said Jaroon had returned to this childhood home during three days of leave.

Chulee said Jaroon had repeatedly complained to her about his stress stemming from news reports about the police gang involving members of Border Patrol 42 based in Nakhon Si Thammarat, with which he was attached.

She defended Jaroon, saying he never had enough cash to make ends meet and borrowed money from his mother and wife regularly. "We are still poor. If he got a lot of money through crime, he would have supported us," she said.

Another six police officers still at large have been told they face discharge from the service if they do not surrender by Friday, when a 15-day period for leave without permission ends.

Arrest warrants for the men were obtained two weeks ago in relation to the alleged crime spree by the gang.

Deputy police chief General Thanee Somboonsab said 66 complaints related to the gang had been made to police, accusing 27 people, including civilians, of various crimes, including the alleged murder of a couple many years ago.

Arrest warrants had been issued for 12 people but more evidence was needed to obtain warrants in regard to the other 15, he said.

The Nation