At 1 p.m. on July 2, 2026, senior police officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, including Deputy Commissioner General Suwan Saengnum and Provincial Police Commander Patthanasakdi Bubphasuwan, led a team to control suspect Samarn, 42, accused of killing three people—the parents and sister of his ex-girlfriend in Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province. The suspect guided police to a burial site in a cassava field in Mueang Phisai.

The investigation began on June 30, 2026, when village authorities reported that 78-year-old Huay, 69-year-old Tim, and 43-year-old Ms. Phiwatchaiporn had mysteriously disappeared from their home. Police found the front door locked from outside, CCTV cables cut, and signs of forced entry into the kitchen. Security footage revealed that Samarn, the ex-boyfriend of Ms. Phiwatchaiporn, had broken in around 2:30 a.m. on June 30 and driven away with the vehicle.

The suspect was eventually apprehended in Pattaya, Chachoengsao Province, where he had been hiding in a hotel room. Under interrogation, Samarn confessed to the murders. He admitted that he had previously dated Ms. Phiwatchaiporn but they had broken up. With an outstanding theft warrant and no money, he returned to their home at night to steal again. Upon arrival, he disabled the CCTV system and concealed a kitchen knife at his waist for protection during the burglary.

When the three victims emerged and discovered him, they confronted him with a Thai sword. Samarn claimed he acted in self-defense, using the knife to fatally stab all three. He then loaded their bodies onto a pickup truck and buried them in a cassava plantation 1-2 kilometers from the house before fleeing.

Samarn also confessed to two previous thefts from the same house: on April 21, 2026, he stole 114,000 baht, and on May 8, 2026, he stole 32,000 baht. The repeated success encouraged him to return, ultimately leading to the triple murder. Police led the suspect to the cassava field to locate the bodies.

On July 2, 2025, Deputy Superintendent Songsa Thammasiri of Doi Luang Police Station in Chiang Mai received a complaint from villagers across four subdistricts—Doi Luang, Santisuk, Yangkham, and Song Kaew—totaling over 15 people from 54 villages. They filed charges against Ms. Noi (alias), the village fund official in Doi Luang District, accusing her of refusing to deposit loan repayments into the district fund and embezzling approximately 30 million baht.

Ms. Oi (alias), 45, a resident of Tambon Doi Luang, explained that villagers had been borrowing from the Doi Luang District Village Fund for over two years due to its low interest rates. When repayment came due in fiscal year 2025, some members borrowed money from outside lenders in tens of thousands of baht to give to Ms. Noi, the fund officer, intending to deposit it and take out new loans.

Ms. Oi stated that villagers borrowed tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of baht and gave the money to Ms. Noi through bank transfers and cash. However, when the scheduled loan approval date arrived, villagers discovered no payments had been recorded in the fund and they could not borrow again. Upon realizing they had been defrauded, villagers filed complaints with police investigators and requested them to track and recover the funds and apprehend Ms. Noi.

Doi Luang Police Station revealed that dozens of victims have filed reports, with embezzled funds totaling tens of millions of baht. Investigators have requested victims prepare documentation of transfers and evidence to be compiled. Officials will then examine the evidence and summon Ms. Noi for questioning and to arrange restitution to the villagers.

On July 2, 2025, Prisit Wattrasinthon, opposition list MP and Pheu Thai deputy party leader, posted on Facebook about an oral parliamentary question scheduled for that day. He stated that the opposition had coordinated early in the week to question the Justice Minister, even accommodating the government's advance notice request beyond normal protocol requirements.

Wattrasinthon pointed out that over the previous 1-2 days, the government never reported that the Justice Minister had conflicting foreign engagements or unavoidable tasks. He noted that in previous weeks, whenever ministers faced genuine scheduling conflicts, the government promptly notified the opposition, who would agree to ask another minister instead to preserve their questioning quota.

However, Wattrasinthon continued, the moment he formally notified the parliament vice-president that his oral question would address the progress of Special Case 24/2568—a major fraud investigation—the Justice Minister suddenly became unavailable, citing a meeting to monitor establishment of an international justice process learning center.

"If this meeting was scheduled in advance, the minister would have informed us 1-2 days ago," Wattrasinthon stated. "The only conclusion is that the minister decided this morning to attend the meeting after seeing the question topic, to use it as an excuse to avoid answering."

Wattrasinthon emphasized that under the Constitution Article 164, all ministers are accountable to parliament for matters within their jurisdiction. Since Thursday oral questions are a standing weekly agenda item, the Justice Minister's absence citing this scheduling conflict is unconvincing and clearly demonstrates the government is evading parliamentary scrutiny of the fraud case.

Wat Roi Phra Phutthaba Phumirom expressed shock after sharing photos of alms offerings to monks from Nam Khun district, Ubon Ratchathani, just hours before a fatal accident. An 11-year-old boy drove his parents' pickup truck into a group of monks conducting a pre-Buddhist Lent pilgrimage, with five monks killed at the scene on the Mukdahan-Don Talan road. The temple's Facebook post commemorated the monks' 20-day journey, which began at Wat Roi Phra Phutthaba Phumirom in Mueang Mukdahan and was scheduled to conclude in Nam Khun district, Ubon Ratchathani on July 20, 2025. The temple offered condolences for the loss of life and injuries, noting that surviving monks and villagers were taken to the temple for temporary shelter.

The 1st batch of Navy recruits from the Naval Military Education Department's recruit training center have composed and produced a music video for the song "Forging Steel in People." The track conveys their emotions and what they've gained from joining the Navy, embodying the center's identity of "tempering body and mind to serve the nation" in building strong character.

Song: Forging Steel in People Performers and credits: Phr. Anphon Kamnuansak: Solo guitar Phr. Amnouy Khundaeng: Acoustic guitar, arrangement Phr. Natchapol Kaemratana: Lead vocals (middle range), arrangement Phr. Jitiwat Winsuntiea: Drums Phr. Pornpipat Sukthong: Lead vocals (lower range), arrangement Phr. Thongkham Sinsasitsai: Bass

Lyrics excerpts: Once in a lifetime, like lightning written by fate A red ID card that changes one person's life Some chase dreams for those behind them Some must bear disappointment from resignation Reminding myself repeatedly, I will make it through Telling myself over and over, I will make it through

From ordinary person to naval officer So many things requiring quick understanding Cast aside procrastination, forget exhaustion Everything must be done well—there is no such word as "can't"

Steel that seems hard is no match for the human spirit Enduring hardship through torment This ship will not abandon you—we go together My friends, let's reach the shore together, it's not far now

Born only once, must fight it once more With dreams of becoming a naval officer To serve the nation as a Thai man's duty Discipline and determination without losing heart For parents and siblings, waiting for little brother first Promise to you, young lady, not long now

View the music video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DFGseBmP3/