DJ Tate Kidnapping and Murder Case Leads to Arrest Warrants for Four Additional Suspects

Following the case where unknown perpetrators kidnapped Mr. Warapong Khunsrijaturong, known as DJ Tate, aged 33, who was forced into a vehicle and disappeared during the early morning hours of May 14, his father filed a missing person report at Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station.

Authorities later discovered DJ Tate's body in a forest area in Ban Thung Na Nang Roek Village, Moo 3, Lad Ya Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province. The victim was found with both hands tied behind his back with rope and had been shot twice in the lower back with a firearm. Police had previously arrested Mr. Thanadech (surname withheld) as one of the suspects.

At 8:00 PM on May 18, Ms. Rannarong Kaewphet, chairwoman of the Network for Reclaiming Justice in Society, along with her team and Mr. Wichian, DJ Tate's father, met with investigators at Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station to file charges against the kidnapping gang. The charges include premeditated murder and concealment of the cause of death.

Upon arrival, Mr. Wichian presented a fruit basket to police representatives as a gesture of gratitude for their assistance in searching for DJ Tate from the beginning, despite the tragic outcome. Following the completion of the autopsy, DJ Tate's body will be returned for religious ceremonies at Wat Nong Krathum.

At 10:00 PM the same day, reporters received confirmation from Police Colonel Surayuth Mekhmangkorn, Superintendent of Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station, that Kanchanaburi Provincial Court had issued arrest warrants for four suspects: 1. Mr. Noppijit 2. Mr. Tharatep 3. Mr. Phakhanat and 4. Mr. Narongdech.

The five charges include: 1. Conspiracy to coerce others through threats to life, body, freedom, reputation, or property, involving five or more perpetrators claiming gang authority; 2. Conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and concealment of corpse or body parts to hide the occurrence, death, or cause of death; 3. Conspiracy to tamper with the corpse or crime scene before autopsy, altering forensic evidence; 4. Conspiracy to commit nighttime theft using vehicles to facilitate the crime or escape, and obstruction of justice by destroying or concealing evidence; and 5. Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying firearms in public without proper permits, and gang-related activities.

Initially, five suspects are believed to have participated in this crime, including Mr. Thanadech who was previously arrested.