Sakon Nakhon Police Lieutenant Colonel Orchestrated 14 Million Baht Murder Plot
A seemingly tragic road accident in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, has unraveled into a chilling tale of premeditated murder for insurance fraud, implicating a veteran police officer and shocking the local community. What began as a routine investigation into the death of 32-year-old Wichian Jityen on February 10th exposed a sinister plot to collect 14 million baht in insurance payouts.
Wichian, known for struggling with substance abuse and volatile behavior, was initially believed to have fallen from a pickup truck on Highway 2280 and been run over by two other vehicles. This narrative quickly crumbled under mounting inconsistencies discovered by investigators.
The intricate scheme began to unravel when authorities discovered 28 insurance policies—both compulsory and voluntary—on the three pickup trucks involved. The total coverage precisely matched the 14 million baht sought by the perpetrators. Further suspicion arose when 38-year-old Sakon Sonkaew, a local acquaintance of the family, used a power of attorney from Wichian’s disabled and illiterate mother to claim the payout. He gave the family only 100,000 baht, raising concerns for Wichian’s sister, Buarian, who had initially confided in Sakon about her brother’s erratic behavior. This seemingly innocent request for help inadvertently set the deadly conspiracy in motion.
Prompted by complaints from the Office of the Insurance Commission and several insurance companies, Pol Maj Gen Somjit Laomongkolnimit, commander of Sakon Nakhon Provincial Police, launched a full-scale investigation. The subsequent autopsy revealed injuries inconsistent with a typical vehicular accident, notably lacking expected abrasions and impact marks. This crucial finding, highlighted by lead investigator Pol Lt Col Noppadol Buali, shifted the investigation toward a criminal inquiry.
Warrants were issued for four individuals: Somsak Wobao (driver of the first pickup truck); Phonchanok Onsurathum (passenger in the first truck); Sakon Sonkaew (driver of the second vehicle); and Phiraphat Rakkun (driver of the third). While initially denying involvement, inconsistencies emerged in their stories. Connections between Sakon and Somsak, both members of the local subdistrict council, surfaced, along with financial transactions between Sakon and the other suspects, revealing payments of 100,000 to 200,000 baht each.
The investigation took a dramatic turn with Phiraphat’s confession. He admitted to staging the accident, revealing that Wichian was deliberately placed in the road to be run over. Driven by personal debt, Phiraphat’s confession implicated a fourth vehicle driven by a police inspector who observed the staged accident: 58-year-old Pol Lt Col Nanmanas Phosri, an experienced investigator with a history of handling road accident cases. Investigators believe Nanmanas masterminded the entire plot, using his expertise to orchestrate the elaborate scam, even preemptively purchasing multiple insurance policies.
Nanmanas' arrest on March 12th sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious questions about the integrity of local law enforcement and the potential for wider corruption. The Office of the Insurance Commission pledged to pursue legal action against all involved. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the full scope of the conspiracy and whether other individuals or similar past crimes are connected to Nanmanas. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of greed and the lengths some will go to for financial gain, leaving a community grappling with betrayal of trust and the chilling realization of a meticulously planned murder disguised as a tragic accident.
