Court Sentences Ex-Prachuap Chief to Death in Police Official Murder

On September 24, 2025, the Criminal Court on Ratchadamri Road in courtroom 914 delivered its verdict in the joint murder case of Chaimaset Sitthisinth, a former deputy provincial police commander (Case No. A629/2568). The defendants—identified as Thanasaran Karanakorn, Saksit (known as Toon), Thanabhat (known as Naew), Abhisit (known as Bass), Sitichai (known as Jim or Gin), Phatranon (known as Off), and Sunthon Wilawun (known as Gotron), the former mayor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and ex-deputy secretary of Public Health, along with Mincharut (known as May)—were charged with joint murder under firearms law.

After analyzing evidence and witness testimony, the court established that on December 11, 2024, the deceased arrived at the defendant Sunthon's residence in Prachuap Khiri Khan with about 20 companions to discuss support for the deceased's wife's candidacy for provincial administration chair. Witnesses stated the deceased entered alone and spoke with Sunthon in what escalated to an argument, after which the deceased left but then returned through a side entrance near the swimming pool. More than 20 minutes later, witnesses heard over 10 gunshots and heard shouts that the deceased had been shot. He was rushed to hospital.

Although the prosecution lacked direct eyewitness testimony, forensic experts specializing in ballistics and gunpowder residue presented evidence gathered from those present. Crime scene recreation matched the forensic findings to specific individuals. The simulation showed that defendants one and two fired the fatal shots—the deceased's body contained two different bullet types—and the defendant one and two confessed. Though defendant four claimed to have hidden in a storeroom, gunpowder residue on his body and event reconstruction proved he was present at the shooting scene. Defendant seven had previously instructed that if the deceased came to the house, "beat him up," establishing joint conspiracy.

Gunpowder analysis proved defendant seven fired three shotgun rounds using defendant two's weapon. However, the court found that defendants one, two, four, and seven did not commit premeditated murder, as there was no prior planning meeting and the deceased voluntarily returned to the house. Defendants one, two, and four were already associates of defendant seven and were not summoned for this purpose.