Kaeng Krachan Park ex-chief, 3 others turn themselves in to fight allegations in ‘Billy’ murder case
Former superintendent of Kaeng Krachan National Park Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and three “accomplices” with arrest warrants by the Criminal Court surrendered to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Tuesday morning (November 12) in the murder case of Karen activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen.
Billy was last seen at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province on April 17, 2014, when he was apprehended by Chaiwat and three of his men for allegedly collecting wild-bee honey illegally. A piece of skull proven to belong to Billy was found in a submerged oil drum near a bridge leading to Kaeng Krachan Dam in April 2019, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants against the four.
The three men are Boonthaen Bussarakham, Thanaseth, or Phaitoon Jaemthes, and Krisanaphong Jitthes.
The four were immediately ushered into the DSI’s investigation room upon their surrender.
Chaiwat told the press before meeting the investigation officer that he and his men would fight the allegation in the murder case and that they have no intention to abscond.
“I am a government official who devotes my life to the protection of the national park,” he said. “However, this allegation has tainted my name and seriously affected my family, while news outlets have made me a bad guy on social media. Therefore, I will fight everyone who accuses me, no matter who they are, as long as I am still standing.”
