14-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The family of the fourth suspect in the murder case of a German businessman claims that he was coerced into assisting his co-accused and expresses concern for his safety if he is incarcerated alongside the alleged mastermind of the brutal crime.
Shahrukh Karim Uddin, a 27-year-old Pakistani with Thai nationality, maintains his innocence in the killing of Hans-Peter Mack, whose dismembered body was discovered in a freezer at a rented house in Pattaya.
During questioning at the Nong Prue police station in Chon Buri, Uddin displayed signs of stress but fully cooperated with the authorities. He vehemently denied all charges, stating that he would present his statement in court. His lawyer and relatives were present during the extensive overnight questioning.
Pol Maj Wachirawit Wisutsereephan, the lead investigator at Nong Prue police, escorted the suspect to the Pattaya Provincial Court on Friday to seek court approval for his detention.
Upon seeing reporters, the 27-year-old suspect exclaimed, “I’m afraid, I didn’t do it, and I didn’t kill.”
Uddin was apprehended at a hotel in Kanchanaburi on Wednesday afternoon while attempting to flee across the border to Myanmar, according to the police.
Earlier, Olaf Thorsten Brinkmann, 52, the alleged mastermind of the crime, was arrested along with two German women, Petra Christl Grundgreif, 54, and Nicole Frevel, 52. All three individuals denied any involvement in the murder.
Surveillance footage captured Uddin sitting in the bed of a pickup truck next to the freezer containing Mack’s dismembered body. Additionally, CCTV footage showed the suspect accompanying Brinkmann as they purchased equipment from a fishing supplies shop in Chon Buri. The police confiscated a speedboat belonging to Brinkmann from a residence on Phra Tamnak Soi 5 in Pattaya on Wednesday night.
Investigators suspect that Brinkmann and Uddin planned to go out to sea and dispose of Mack’s body to eliminate evidence. However, the victim’s dismembered remains were discovered at a rented house in tambon Nong Prue on Monday night, six days after the German property broker had gone missing.
Shahriyar Karim Uddin, 30, the suspect’s elder brother, stated that his brother was gripped with fear and sought justice. Uddin claimed that he had been coerced by Brinkmann into assisting him. The family is concerned for Uddin’s safety if he is incarcerated alongside Brinkmann, fearing that he may be silenced, according to his brother.
The family plans to petition Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn to ensure justice for Uddin, as per his brother’s statement.
Mrs. Patt, 56, the suspect’s mother, expressed confidence that her son was not involved in the murder. She believes that the mastermind plotted to make her son a scapegoat.
A source familiar with the investigation revealed that Uddin informed the police that Grundgreif had asked him to open a pool villa on July 4 for a party involving a VIP guest. On that day, Brinkmann, Grundgreif, and Mack arrived and entered the villa while Uddin was instructed to wait outside.
After waiting for over three hours, Uddin decided to enter the villa. To his surprise, he found Mack lying unconscious on a sofa. Uddin confronted the two Germans, questioning their actions. In response, Brinkmann forcefully pushed him against the wall and threatened him with a gun.
Allegedly, the German suspect threatened to abduct Uddin’s younger sister and wife and traffic them to Cambodia if he did not cooperate. Uddin also claimed that Brinkmann had threatened to kill his parents in Phuket if he betrayed the gang.
The police are currently compiling witness testimonies and forensic evidence to build a case against the prime suspect.
