Chalor fails in death appeal

       The murder trial of former deputy police commissioner Chalor Kerdthes has finally come to a close after 15 years with the Supreme Court sentencing him to death for murdering the wife and son of a gems trader.
       The police general was among eight people indicted for the abduction and murders of Darawadee Srithanakhan and her son Seri, who were found dead in the family's wrecked Mercedes in Saraburi on Aug 1,1994.
       It is believed the mother and son were kidnapped to force gems trader Santi Srithanakhan to cooperate with a police inquiry into the Saudi royal jewellery theft headed by Chalor.
       Mr Santi allegedly received some of the jewellery stolen from the palace of King Faisal in 1989 by Thai worker Kriengkrai Techamong.
       In his appeal to the Supreme Court,Chalor argued that Darawadee and Seri died as a result of an accident and the prosecution only had a defendant's testimony against him.
       The Supreme Court rejected his argument, saying the investigation found the car crash did not cause any damage to the interior of the Mercedes where the bodies were found and thus was unlikely to have killed Darawadee and her son.
       The autopsy report concluded they died of acute swelling of the brain that could have been caused by severe blows to the head.
       The Supreme Court said it found the statements of defendant Phansak Mongkolsilp credible.
       Pol Lt Col Phansak testified he was assigned to kidnap the victims to lure Mr Santi out of hiding.
       Mr Santi was wanted for questioning about the whereabouts of the jewellery.When the scheme did not go as planned,the victims were disposed of. The court therefore upheld the death sentence.
       Chalor looked calm when the reading of the verdict began, but his eyes welled with tears when the death sentence was handed down.
       "I accept the verdict," he said trembling but kept quiet when asked if he would seek a royal pardon.
       Chalor had been fighting the charges since Nov 28,1994.
       The prosecution said he collaborated with the other defendants in kidnapping Darawadee and Seri from their home in Taling Chan and detaining them in Sa Kaeo province. During the detention the victims were assaulted and killed. The car accident was staged as a cover-up.
       Former deputy police commissioner Chalor Kerdthes performs a wai to thank friends and family who turned up yesterday at the Supreme Court to give him moral support.