15-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The prime suspect in the murder case of a German property broker in Chon Buri has been charged with premeditated murder, a crime punishable by death. Olaf Thorsten Brinkmann, a 52-year-old German national, is the prime suspect among the four arrested for their alleged involvement in Hans Peter Walter Mack’s murder.
Police have now pressed charges against Mr Brinkmann, while the other three suspects, Petra Christl Grundgreif, Nicole Frevel, and Shahrukh Karim Uddin, have denied any involvement.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said that police had changed the charge from murder, which is only punishable by life imprisonment. CCTV footage showed Mr Brinkmann and Mr Uddin in a fishing gear shop, and the owner of an electric saw testified that he sold the saw to two foreigners used to dismember Mack’s body.
Police also seized a speed boat belonging to Mr Brinkmann and discovered that he planned to dump Mack’s dismembered body into the sea. In addition, police found a signal from Mack’s mobile phone in Cambodia, which they are now investigating.
Pol Maj Wachirawit Wisutsereephan, the investigation chief at Nong Prue police in Chon Buri, said that Mr Uddin, who is a Pakistani with Thai nationality, claimed he was forced to help his co-accused. Mr Uddin said that Ms Grundgreif had asked him to open a pool villa to hold a party for a VIP guest on July 4. When he opened the door, he found Mack lying unconscious on the sofa. He then asked the two German nationals what they were doing.
Mr Brinkmann suddenly pushed him to the wall and used a gun to threaten him that he would abduct his younger sister and his wife and take them to sell in Cambodia if he would not cooperate and would kill his parents in Phuket if he betrayed his gang, Mr Uddin said.
