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In Thailand, the Bangkok court recently recognized Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, a 36-year-old woman, guilty of murder as part of his first trial of the fourteen that await him. Considered one of the most formidable serial killers in the history of the country, she was sentenced to death for having poisoned her friend. This case, which arouses fear and disbelief, highlights a series of sordid homicides, involving victims she defrauded using cyanide. As details of his crimes continue to emerge, Thai society is confronted with a painful reality of unsuspected violence and betrayal.
In a case that shocked Thailand and the world, Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, a 36-year-old woman, was sentenced to death by a Bangkok court for the fatal poisoning of her friend, opening the door to a series of trials for a total of 14 murders. Accused of using cyanide to commit her crimes, she now faces charges of 80 offenses in total, and her story reveals the rise of one of the Thai kingdom’s most notorious serial murderers.
The first trial and conviction
The judgment in the first of 14 trials was delivered on November 20, 2023. Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was found guilty of poisoned her friend Siriporn Kanwong, causing her death. The circumstances surrounding this crime are tragic: the two women had come together to participate in a Buddhist ritual in April 2023, where they were to release fish into the Mae Klong River. Shortly after, Siriporn collapsed and died quickly, leading to an investigation that revealed the presence of cyanide in her body.
A striking modus operandi
According to information provided by the police, Sararat developed a particularly macabre modus operandi. She allegedly financed her gambling addiction by borrowing money from her victims and defrauding them of large sums of money, reaching as much as 300,000 baht (about $9,000) in one case. After getting what she wanted, she not only stole their belongings, but also killed them using herbal capsules poisoned, prompting a total of 15 people to ingest it, leading to the death of several of them.
A disturbing criminal past
Investigators were able to link Sararat to cases ofcyanide poisoning unresolved since 2015. His case is not isolated in the Thai criminal context, where several similar cases have shaken society. In a separate incident earlier this year, six foreigners were found dead in a luxury hotel in Bangkok, also from cyanide poisoning, raising suspicions of connections between the cases.
Reactions and consequences
The public and media reaction to this case has been extreme, and the statements of the victim’s mother, Tongpin Kiatchanasiri, illustrate the horror surrounding this series of murders. “The court’s decision is fair,” she said, expressing relief to see some form of justice served. However, through this sentence, the crocodile of Sararat’s tears will not be able to hide the heinous crimes she committed.
Additional details and perspectives
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn is currently facing 13 other murder trials, and her legal journey has revealed a complex web of scams and fraud. Her ex-husband, a high-ranking police officer, was also sentenced to 16 months in prison for complicity in the poisoning, while Sararat’s former lawyer received two years in prison. Public debates surrounding the case raise questions about security and justice mechanisms in Thailand.
This case reflects a dark reality in which the fight against crime requires increased vigilance, and authorities are pushed to deepen their investigations in order to prevent future tragedies. The repercussions of this story continue to strike at the heart of Thai society and raise concerns about the presence of similar cases in an ever-changing criminological landscape.
For more detailed information on this case and other stories related to crimes in Thailand, you can read these articles from reliable sources: BBC Africa, Koha, The Parisian, Police and realities, And West France.
- Name : Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn
- Age : 36 years old
- Number of trials: 14
- Number of homicides: 14
- Punishment : Sentenced to death
- Date of conviction: November 20, 2023
- Operating mode: Cyanide poisoning
- Known victim: Siriporn Kanwong
- Motives: Gambling debts
- Amounts swindled: Up to 300,000 baht
- Criminal links: Unsolved poisonings since 2015
- Accomplices: Ex-husband and former lawyer convicted
- Media cases: Investigation into recent poisonings in Bangkok
Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn Trial FAQ
Q: Who is Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn? Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn is a Thai woman, accused of being one of the worst serial killers of Thai history. She was convicted in a trial of poisoning a friend with cyanide.
Q: How many trials does Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn face? She faces a total of 14 trials for murder and was charged with approximately 80 offenses in total.
Q: What was the sentence given to Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn? She was sentenced to dead by the Bangkok court in the first of its trials.
Q: What were Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn’s modus operandi? Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn allegedly used her gambling addiction to defraud her victims and poison them with cyanide after borrowing money from them.
Q: How has it been linked to other poisonings? Police were able to link Sararat to similar poisonings dating back to 2015, which allowed us to better understand its modus operandi and its victims.
Q: What happened with the victim Siriporn Kanwong? Siriporn collapsed and died after being poisoned during a Buddhist ritual. Traces of cyanide were found in his body.
Q: Who were the other suspects linked to this case? Sararat’s ex-husband, a police lieutenant colonel, was also sentenced to 16 months in prison for his complicity in the murder of Siriporn, as well as a former lawyer sentenced to two years.
Q: What impact did this case have in Thailand? The case has attracted significant media attention in Thailand, where several similar crimes, including the poisoning of six foreigners at a luxury hotel, have been reported.