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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Thailand: Bar girl murder suspects to face death penalty

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Four suspects in the Khon Kaen bar girl dismemberment case are looking at the death penalty after being officially charged with premeditated murder yesterday.

Apparently, authorities don’t believe murder suspect Preeyanuch Nonwangchai’s story that the killing was accidental and that she just meant to teach her alleged victim, Warisara Klinjui, 22, a lesson.

Preeyanuch and three alleged accomplices, Kawita Rachada, 26, Apiwan Satayabundit, 28, and Wasin Namprom, 22, face premeditated murder charges. 

Another suspect, Jidarat Promkun, 21, is facing lesser charges and may not have been in the car at the time of the crime.

The only punishment given for a conviction for premeditated murder is the death penalty. However, Thailand has not actually carried out an execution since 2009.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Tanasak Rittidejpaiboon said yesterday, “There is evidence that the suspects made preparations for the murder,” reported The Nation.

Police plan to conclude their investigation in less than three months and will oppose bail. Not that any members of any of the suspects’ families have come forward to try and post for the alleged killers.

Kawita’s sister denied the widespread rumors that her younger sister had millions of baht flowing in and out of her bank account each month. However, that, paired with the trio’s alleged drug use and possible drug dealing, spurred police to open an investigation into their finances that will go back to 2014. 

They expect to learn if the women were involved in large-scale drug dealing from this probe.


Court hands death sentence to Lat Phrao iPhone mugger-murderers


The Criminal Court today handed down death sentences to the two ex-convicts that murdered a 26-year-old man during an iPhone theft in Lat Phrao earlier this year.

Kittikorn Wigaha, 26, and Supatchai Chansri, 25, were sentenced for the robbery-murder of Wasin Leungjam on Jan. 4 in Sukhonthasawat Soi 27. The case angered the public and drew the attention of international media.

In the CCTV footage, Wasin was seen attacked by the two men who approached him on a motorcycle. The victim fought back against having his phone stolen, leading Kittikorn to stab him in the neck and leaving him to die. The pair then escaped on their motorcycle.

It was reported that only his iPhone was stolen while his wallet was intact.

Although both men confessed to the crime, the court did not commute the sentence, reasoning that they confessed because the case against them was too strong not to, Kapook reported.

Sarutta Leungjam, the victim’s sister, said that she is “satisfied” with the court sentence and that she “believes in karma.”

She added that her parents did not come to the hearing because they did not want to face the defendants, but they have forgiven the men.

Source: Coconuts Bangkok, June 8, 2017, May 31, 2017

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