Thai justice system under fire after freed criminal confesses to killing 5

The suspected ringleader behind the murders of two Russian siblings and a Thai family was released just seven weeks before the first crime

The bodies of Russian nationals Diana and Roman Nazimov were found in a shallow grave on Friday in a forested patch of land in Chonburi province several days after their mother reported them missing.

After a manhunt, suspects Thana “Pong” Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai “Thong” Srinil, 39, were arrested hiding in a fruit orchard in Sa Kaeo province, bordering Cambodia.

Thana – handcuffed yet calm – told police the pair tried to steal a motorcycle from the Russian siblings, local media reported. He shot Roman, 17, in the ensuing struggle and then beat 22-year-old Diana to death.

During their search for the missing Russians, police found the remains of Thai couple Wichian and Chantana and their 18-year-old daughter Nichapha. The family had been shot, bound and buried in a nearby coconut plantation. Police have withheld their surnames for privacy reasons.

The suspects allegedly also confessed to the murder of the trio, whose disappearance had been reported in late June.