A suspect in a Phuket gangland murder, recently extradited from Canada, will be tried in Bangkok, the authorities have confirmed. According to a Phuket News report, Sermphan Sirikong, chief of the Phuket Provincial Police, says Matthew Dupre will stand trial in Bangkok, instead of at Phuket Provincial Court, on the island where the crime was committed.
Dupre, who arrived back in the kingdom on a Thai Air Force plane on Sunday, May 28, is currently being held in a Bangkok prison. He is charged with murdering Indian-Canadian gangland figure Jimi Sandhu, who was gunned down outside his Rawai villa after driving into the villa’s driveway and getting out of his car in February 2022.
Sermphan says that, while the crime took place in Phuket, it has wider links to international criminal activities.
Dupre was escorted back to Thailand on a specially chartered flight under extreme security.
“This case happened in Phuket, but involves transnational organised crime. Phuket (police) had the arrest warrant issued, but then we transferred the case to the Central Investigation Bureau. The CIB then requested a Red Notice and then through the Office of the Attorney General had him extradited from Canada. He will be prosecuted in Bangkok.”
However, according to the Phuket News report, Sermphan says local police officers involved in the murder investigation may still be required to testify at the trial.
“I am not sure yet if Phuket officials will have to get involved in the court (process) at some stage as we were involved in the case from the beginning.”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
