Suspect in Thai Family Triple Murder Near Pattaya Gives Additional Statement, Denies Link to Other Cases, Says He Was Forced to Participate by Other Suspects
CHONBURI, Thailand
On August 3rd, 2026, police questioned one of the suspects in the murders of three members of a Thai family for approximately one hour at Na Jomtien Police Station.
Pol. Col. Phasakorn Phaichit, Superintendent of Investigation for the Chonburi Provincial Police, conducted the additional interview with Mr. Chatchanan Paeniam, also known as “Fluke,” 24. Investigators had obtained permission from Pattaya Provincial Court to bring him from detention for further questioning to examine remaining issues in the case.
Mr. Suksan Missajan, President of the Pattaya Lawyers Council, attended the session in accordance with Section 134/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code. After the interview, it was disclosed that the suspect had voluntarily requested to give an additional statement.
In his account, Fluke maintained that he was aware of and involved only in the killings of the three Thai family members. He denied any knowledge of or connection to the murders of two Russian siblings or reports of any other possible deaths.
During the questioning, Fluke appeared distressed and cried several times. He confessed to the charges against him and provided information that investigators considered potentially useful to the case. Specific details from the case file have not been released, as authorities continue to gather evidence and expand the investigation.
The lawyer stated that the suspect claimed he became involved under duress. Police will verify this assertion against witness statements, physical evidence and other materials. Fluke gave partial accounts of his actions, including traveling to the victims’ home, moving vehicles and using the victims’ property, but further details remain withheld as they form key elements of the case file.
Investigators have charged him with jointly murdering others with premeditation and are considering additional charges related to property and post-incident conduct.
Suksan added that Fluke cried during the interview and said he did not want to face the death penalty. The lawyer explained that while a confession could be taken into account, it does not automatically lead to a reduced sentence, as the court will weigh all evidence in the file.
After the session, officers returned Fluke to Pattaya Special Prison under a detention order. As he was being escorted to the vehicle, reporters asked about his role on the day of the incident. He said he had been deceived into going along, believing he was helping to detain someone in a matter connected to drugs, and that he had not known a murder would occur.
He acknowledged that he realized from the outset the other suspects were not genuine police officers. He said he did not report the matter afterward because he feared being attacked or killed to silence him, as the suspects knew both him and his family and had threatened him.
Fluke apologized for the events and stated that he would not have joined the group had he known in advance that murders would take place. When asked who fired the gun that killed the victims, he did not answer before officers took him away.
