Japanese 'gangster' shot in north
A Japanese alleged yakuza gangster was shot dead in the the country’s north by a local tourist guide in suspicious circumstances, Thai police said Wednesday.
Friday 29 April 2011, 01:05AM
A Japanese alleged yakuza gangster was shot dead in the the country’s north by a local tourist guide in suspicious circumstances, Thai police said Wednesday.
The 44-year-old was shot twice in the head and torso in a mountainous area 30 kilometres from the city of Chiang Rai late Tuesday, Major General Adis Ngamchitsuksri, commander of the Thai Tourist Police, told AFP.
Maj Gen Adis said a Thai tourist guide named as Apichart Inthisak, 41, had surrendered and confessed to shooting the man, saying they had quarrelled during a trip to see hilltribes in the area.
“But police are not fully convinced of the motive given by the suspect. We think that there may be another motive behind this killing,” he added.
A second 59-year-old Japanese man sustained serious injuries from gunshot wounds.
Apichart, a native of Chiang Rai, told police that the two Japanese were upset that he was one hour late to pick up them up from their guesthouse.
He said they later argued and a gunfight ensued.
“The suspect said he had to carry a gun to protect tourists,” Adis said.
Maj Gen Adis said he was told by the Japanese embassy in Bangkok that the victim was a prominent yakuza gangster in Tokyo linked to the Yamaguchi-gumi organisation. The embassy did not confirm that information when contacted by AFP.
– AFP
