The arrest was made after the car’s GPS signal was detected in Phuket, leading officers to the suspect near Phuket International Airport yesterday (Sept 19).
The case began on Sept 10, when Thitirat Chatiput, a 47-year-old GrabCar driver in Nakhon Pathom, was reported missing by her family. She was later found dead yesterday.
Her body was found in a ditch along Nakhon Chai Si-Huai Phlu Road in Nakhon Pathom Province. Her black MG3 car, with licence plate number 6 Kor Chor 7998, was missing, prompting authorities to suspect a robbery-murder.
The car’s GPS signal was detected in Nakhon Sawan Province on Sept 13, and later spotted on CCTV in Phuket yesterday.
Police across the island began their search to locate the vehicle. The Investigation Unit of Region 8 Police and Sakhu Police tracked the car to a condo near the airport, where they found the driver, Yadfa Khamsit, yesterday evening. She was taken into custody without resistance.
Ms Yadfa claimed she had bought the car from her brother-in-law, Pol Lt Thanitsak Suriyapraphat, in Nakhon Sawan Province. She said she had no knowledge of the vehicle’s connection to any crime and was unaware of any wrongdoing.
Phuket police have transferred the case to Nakhon Pathom authorities, where further investigation will determine Ms Yadfa’s involvement. Currently, no charges have been filed in Phuket, and Ms Yadfa is cooperating as a witness.
The investigation continues as authorities in both provinces work together to uncover the full details of the case.
The reputation of police in Nakhon Sawan remains tarnished by the arrest, charged and convction of Pol Col Thitisan “Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon, who was head of Nakhon Sawan police station when he was charged with murdering Chiraphong Thanapat, a 24-year-old drug suspect, in 2022.
Thitisan was tried for killing the suspect by putting a plastic bag over his head, suffocating him.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct initially gave him the death penalty on June 8 this year, but commuted the sentence to life because he confessed to some charges.