Murder Warrant for Arrest of Thailand's Air Vice-Marshal by Phairath Khampha 31 May 2002 A warrant for the arrest of an air vice-marshal was issued on May 15, 2002 in connection with the murder of an interpreter at his home in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district the night before. Thailand's Crime Suppression Division (CSD) approved a warrant for the arrest of AVM Suthampong Samakabut for the murder of Chongcharoen Chansikaset, 32, an interpreter and English teacher at the British-American Institute at the Mall Department Store. Suthampong faced five charges of extortion, theft, fraud, embezzlement and libel. Police suspected that conflicts over real estate between Suthampong and Harold Mollin, an American who hired Chongcharoen as his interpreter, were behind the murder. The American sought police protection after his interpreter was killed. Mollin, who was questioned by police on the same day at his Bangkok residence, had hired Chongcharoen to demand debt payments from Suthampong. According to Mollin, he met Chongcharoen, who had been threatened two weeks earlier, at the Mall on May 14. Thinking their lives were in danger, they decided to seek police protection and went to see CSD commander Police Maj-General Surasit Sangapong, but he was not there. Mollin and Chongcharoen then decided to write a letter of complaint to Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh that Suthampong had cheated Mollin out of 41 million baht (a little over US$1 million). Mollin said he later learnt that his interpreter had been shot dead. "Chongcharoen was worried about the letter of complaint," said Mollin. "He told me he was threatened two weeks ago." The CSD requested Suthampong's superior to turn Suthampong in on May 15, but in classic Thai style of where the political and economic elite protect their own Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Tharet Punsri said the Air Force did not want to turn Suthampong over for police questioning yet, as it wanted to appoint its own panel to investigate the matter first to create as much obfuscation as possible. American seeks protection after interpreter killed American businessman Harold Merlyn said the death of freelance interpreter Jongcharoen Chansrikesorn could be related to a business dispute between himself and an air force officer. Mr Merlyn was speaking after meeting Crime Suppression Division commander Pol Maj Gen Surasit Sangkhapong, whom he asked for protection. The businessman said Jongcharoen did not have any personal conflict with anyone. However, he did not rule out the possibility that the killing might have something to do with his dispute with AVM Suthampong Samakkabutr, the Don Muang air force base commander. "Those who killed him might want to rip off my hands and legs since he was only my most trusted friend who worked alongside me from the beginning," said Mr Merlyn, who accused AVM Suthampong of theft, slander, swindling and fraud. In a personal meeting with Anant Piromkaew, the city police commissioner, AVM Suthampong on May 16 denied killing the interpreter. He was not called in for questioning. Police of course said no evidence had come to light which implicated him. Jongcharoen was active in helping Mr Merlyn file a legal action against AVM Suthampong. The interpreter was said to have represented Mr Mollin in unsuccessful talks seeking a settlement. AVM Suthampong said he would not risk harming his reputation by killing Jongcharoen. He had met the interpreter only once and had not seen Mr Merlyn in more than a year. ACM Kongsak Wanthana, the deputy air force chief, asked AVM Suthampong about the interpreter's death. The air force would not set up inquiry unless police pressed charges. Meanwhile, Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Ditthakawee, the deputy city police commissioner, said Jongcharoen told his wife that he was under threat and thought their house was no longer safe. The interpreter might have sought protection from the crime suppression police before his death. The deputy commissioner said Jongcharoen was dealing with personal debt problems and a dispute about his house lease.