Debtor suspected of mass murder of 14 creditors in Thailand

Con nợ bị nghi sát hại hàng loạt 14 chủ nợ tại Thái Lan - 1 — Police escort suspect Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn to the criminal court in Bangkok on April 26 (Photo: EPA).

Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said on May 3 that the suspect, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, has been charged with 14 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. If the charges are confirmed, this would be one of the most serious mass killings in the Southeast Asian country's history.

Sararat is suspected of borrowing money from creditors before poisoning them with cyanide. She was arrested last week in connection with nine deaths over the past few years and police have since expanded their investigation.

According to Surachate, the suspect, Sararat, is accused of tricking 15 people into taking so-called herbal pills laced with poison. One person survived. Police are continuing to investigate three other deaths that may be linked to Sararat.

"The suspect borrowed money from people he knew because he had a lot of credit card debt. When the creditors asked him to pay back the money, he started killing them. We are investigating how much money the suspect received from the victims," Surachate said. Last week, he estimated that Sararat had borrowed hundreds of thousands of baht.

Mr Surachate said the suspect's husband, a senior police officer, is also facing fraud and embezzlement charges in connection with the murder. Both Sararat and her husband have denied the charges against them. Police said Sararat is four months pregnant.

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