First Combined Trial for Two Accomplices in 'Pattaya Drum Murder' ... "Will State Opinion Later"

Two accomplices in the 'Thailand Pattaya Drum Barrel Murder Case' stood side by side in the same courtroom for the first time on the afternoon of the 20th.

The 4th Criminal Division of the Changwon District Court held the first combined trial for the cases involving Mr. A and Mr. B, both in their 20s, at around 2 p.m. that day.

The court decided to merge the cases for trial, considering that the two are accomplices and that the charges, evidence, and witnesses significantly overlap.

According to the prosecution, along with another accomplice, Mr. C, they are accused of kidnapping and murdering a Korean tourist in his 30s in Pattaya, Thailand, around May 5, and disposing of the body in a reservoir.

The suspects in the "Thailand Pattaya Drum Murder Case" each heading to their detention warrant hearings Photo by Lee Seryoung

On the day of the incident, they allegedly made the victim drink alcohol laced with drugs at a club in Thailand, then put the intoxicated Mr. B into a prepared vehicle and moved to an accommodation they had reserved as the crime scene.

When the victim protested that the direction of travel was different, they tied his hands and feet, strangled him, and beat him with their fists and other means, resulting in his death.

They then transferred millions of won from the deceased victim's mobile phone to their own accounts, stole the money, and after returning to the accommodation, placed the victim's body in a drum barrel and dumped it in a nearby reservoir.

After the crime, they also made a threatening call to the victim's mother, demanding ransom.

Mr. A returned to Korea after the crime and was apprehended at a residence in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, on May 12. Mr. B fled to Cambodia, was arrested in Phnom Penh, and was forcibly repatriated to Korea on the 12th, after which both were detained.

The other accomplice, Mr. C, who is in his 30s, is currently on the run.

The defendants' attorneys did not state their opinions on the prosecution's charges and said they would submit their statements later in writing.

In response, the court said, "This is the third hearing for this case," and added, "You need to state your opinions quickly so that the trial can be concluded in a timely manner. Please submit evidence organization, including additional evidence for the merged cases, and your opinions on the charges at the next hearing."

The next trial is scheduled to be held in the same courtroom at 11 a.m. on August 29.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.