Thailand's Murder Trial of Brutal Son of Corrupt Politician Continues by Phairath Khampha 31 December 2002 The murder trial in Thailand of the son of an influential but corrupt politician with ties to the underworld, drugs human trafficking, prostitution and weapons trafficking continued in December 2002. A key prosecution witness in the Duangchalerm Yoobamrung murder trial testified during cross-examination on December 2 that he had seen only the back of a defendant during a scuffle inside a Bangkok bar that resulted in the death of a policeman. At the Central Criminal Court, Viroj Malee, a guard at the Twenty Pub, where the killing took place, appeared to hesitate before testifying that he had seen Supoj Sang-anan from behind. He was afraid to tell the truth because he knew that by doing so the murderer's father would arrange for a horrible death. Supoj, along with Wanchalerm and three others, were being tried for the murder of Sgt-Major Suwichai Rodwimut, who was shot at the Twenty Pub in October 2001. Viroj said he had seen Supoj punch Suwichai once before the shooting occurred. The witness said that Suwichai had been looking his way while the policeman had been facing Supoj, who had been flanked by two other taller men. At that point the defence lawyer asked Viroj whether that meant he had seen only Supoj's back, with which the witness concurred. The witness could not identify the clothes worn by some of the defendants that night. He also dismissed the defence lawyer's suggestion that he had discussed with a senior policeman the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a prosecution witness given the personal danger of testifying in the truth.The court scheduled December 16 for the next hearing. Civil suit delayed Thailand's Civil Court postponed until late February 2003 the trial of a case filed by the family of the policeman who was killed by the son of politician Chalerm Yoobamrung, court officials said on December 23. In October, Supatra and Kitisak Rodwimut, wife and son of Sen Sgt Major Suwichai Rodwimut, had filed a suit against Duangchalerm Yoobamrung and two other men who were arrested in connection with the killing. The plaintiffs demanded 19.1 million baht in damages. The postponement was caused by a delay in sending court summons to the defendants, court officials said.