Billy’s death now a murder case as four national park ex-officials charged
The former superintendent of Kaeng Krachan National Park Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn and three alleged accomplices have been charged with intentionally killing Karen activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen.
The official filing of the charge against Chaiwat and his alleged accomplices by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) changes the status of the case from missing to murder.
A letter from the OAG to the Department of Special Investigation on August 10 says Chaiwat and his accomplices have been charged with intentionally killing for personal interest or concealing wrongdoing, using a weapon to threaten another, detaining another person to cause death, and concealing the victim’s body to influence the autopsy or case outcome.
The OAG revoked the previous charge of misbehaviour against Chaiwut and his accomplices, as they had acted on their own.
The office also revoked charges on a private person for supporting the four suspects.
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 proved to Billy’s 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 alleged accomplices are: Boonthaen Bussarakham, Thanaseth, or Phaitoon Jaemthes, and Krisanaphong Jitthes.
