LOP BURI, THAILAND – Police arrested two additional suspects seen as alleged masterminds behind the abduction and killing of a Bangkok manager, while another accused man reportedly fled to Laos.
From disappearance to murder investigation
The 46-year-old victim, Rut “Top” Maneeprasert, headed a medical technology company in Bangkok’s Sutthisan district and stopped contacting his family on 18 February. His mother filed a missing person report at the Sutthisan police station on 19 February, triggering a formal investigation.
Officers began tracing his last known movements and communications. Early findings led police to treat the case as a possible abduction that later developed into a homicide probe.
Abduction caught on camera – men drag victim into SUV
According to police, CCTV footage showed “Top” being intercepted in Soi Ratchada 18 by a group of three to four men. The images reportedly depicted the victim being restrained and forced against his will into an SUV, after which the assailants fled the scene.
Investigators used the recordings to piece together the route of the vehicle and to identify individuals believed to have taken part in the kidnapping. These visual clues became a central element of the case.
Body found in abandoned house
Evidence later led investigators to an abandoned house in Lop Buri province, where officers discovered a body. Police stated the man was found inside the building while his body was being burned, turning the operation into a demanding forensic task.
Specialists were called in to process the scene and collect remaining traces. The condition of the body made identification and reconstruction of the sequence of events more complex.
Eight suspects – including two police officers
Police named a total of eight alleged participants, including Acting Sub Lieutenants Weerawit “Kwan” Phithaksubpayakorn (43) and Phumate “Art” Ngernsichai (48). Seven of the eight had been arrested, while Phumate remained at large.
According to a report by the Facebook news page Big Kren, Phumate was believed to have gone into hiding in Laos. Authorities continued efforts to track him down.
Jealousy, affairs, money – many leads, no clear motive
At the outset, investigators also examined a possible motive of jealousy and relationship conflicts. This followed reports that videos allegedly showing sexual encounters with several women had been found on the victim’s phone.
A neighbour and friend from around the condominium in Sutthisan told Channel 8 that “Top” often brought women to his room, while also having a girlfriend and plans to marry soon. The account suggested a complex private life that police considered as one line of inquiry.
1 million baht and suspicion of a contract killing
The same person also said “Top” had been under stress because someone had failed to repay him around 1 million baht in borrowed money as agreed, and that the funds had been intended for the wedding. Financial pressure was therefore another angle for investigators.
Police stated that all eight initially named suspects had been hired to abduct and kill the man, while inquiries continued into who had ordered the attack and financed it. The case was treated as a suspected contract killing involving multiple hired participants.
Arrest of alleged masterminds – flight plans on phones
Officers later identified two further suspects regarded as alleged masterminds: Sorrawee “C” Ratphithakthirada and his girlfriend Benyapa. Both were arrested at their accommodation.
During checks of their phones, police said they found indications that flights for leaving the country had already been booked. Investigators viewed these findings as pointing to possible plans to escape.
Private investigator and unanswered police questions
Based on the investigation so far, Sorrawee was believed to have been the central figure who paid for the crime. According to police, Benyapa was said to have hired a private investigator to spy on the victim.
Both denied the allegations. All accused remained in custody and were being questioned, while the exact motive behind the suspected murder-for-hire continued to be unclear.