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Thai serial killer sought over new murder after early release
BANGKOK, Dec 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Thai police are hunting a convicted
serial killer in connection with another murder months after he was released
for good behaviour, authorities said Tuesday.
Somkid Pumpuang was sentenced to life in 2005 for the killing of five women
believed to be involved in the sex and nightlife industry, leading the media
to dub him Thailand’s “Jack the Ripper”.
But the 55-year-old was deemed an “excellent prisoner” and let free in May,
the Thai corrections department said in a statement.
Seven months later authorities want to rearrest him in connection with the
murder of a 51-year-old hotel maid in northeastern Thailand.
Several police stations in the area are cooperating in the hunt for the
serial killer, case officer Chatchawin Srikaeolor told AFP.
“We believe that the murder took place on Sunday morning,” he said.
Authorities are also offering a 50,000 baht ($1,650) reward for information
leading to his capture.
Thailand’s crime suppression division posted a picture of Somkid on its
Facebook page under the heading “Most Wanted”.
The corrections department said it was urgently reviewing the sentence
reduction policies but also said it was operating at three times capacity
with 370,000 inmates.
Overcrowding remains a serious problem in Thai jails, which has one of the
largest prison populations in the world.
The number reached an all-time high earlier this year, according to a
report this month from the International Federation for Human Rights and the
Union for Civil Liberty.
Nearly 80 percent are jailed for drug-related offences.
BSS/AFP/RY/13:05 hrs