160 Border Policemen Face DNA Check Over Murder Of Japanese Tourist

Sukhothai:- The Department of Special Investigation will conduct DNA test on 160 border patrol policemen who were stationed in Sukhothai’s Muang district eight years ago when a female Japanese tourist was murdered.

 

So far the murder of Tomoko Kawashita in 2007 remains unsolved, prompting her parents to seek help from the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

 

She was murdered inside the Sukhothai Historical Park while walking to join a Loy Krathong Festival.

 

On October 16 2013, the then tourism and sports minister issued a letter to the DSI, requesting it to accept the murder case as a special case.

 

In a latest development, Thaweewat Surasit, the director of the DSI’s Security Cases Division 1, led an investigative to Sukhothai on Monday to review all the information in the case to plan further probes.

 

Thaweewat said the victim’s parents and the Japanese Embassy sought help from the Tourism and Sports Ministry to have the case reinvestigated and the DSI board accepted it as a special case late last year.

 

Thaweewat said his team will hold a meeting with the Sukhothai Police chief and the commander of the Ramkhamhaeng Border Patrol Police Camp at 8:30 am Tuesday.

 

The DSI will seek help from the BPP camp chief to summon 160 BPP officers, who were stationed at the camp when the murder took place, for DNA checking.

 

At 1 pm, Thaweewat will lead the parents to the murder scene to conduct a memorial rite.

 

On Thursday, the parents will meet DSI Director General Suwana Suwanjutha and they will also meet Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Khumchaya at the Justice Ministry on Friday.