Accomplice in 20s Extradited to Korea for 'Pattaya Drum Murder' Admits Partial Charges ... "Did Not Kill or Dismember Victim"

A man in his 20s, identified as accomplice A in the 'Thailand Pattaya Drum Barrel Murder Case', who was arrested in Cambodia and forcibly extradited to Korea before being indicted and detained, partially admitted to the charges in court.

Another accomplice, B, also in his 20s, who was apprehended in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk and brought to trial while in custody, denied all charges.

The 4th Criminal Division of the Changwon District Court held the second combined trial for A and B at around 10 a.m. on the 29th.

The accomplices of the 'Thailand Pattaya Drum Murder Case' heading to their detention warrant hearings respectively
Photo by Lee Seryeong

At the hearing, A's attorney stated, "We admit to the charges of robbery, concealment of a corpse, and attempted extortion," but added, "We deny all charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, destruction and conspiracy regarding the corpse, and computer fraud."

B's attorney said, "We deny all charges of conspiracy, murder, disposal of a corpse, and any involvement or execution of these crimes."

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

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

During the drive, when the victim protested that the direction was different, they bound his hands and feet, strangled him, and beat him with their fists and other means, resulting in his death.

They then transferred 3.7 million won from the deceased victim's mobile phone via bank transfer, stole the money, and after returning to the accommodation, placed the body in a drum barrel and disposed of it in a nearby reservoir.

After the crime, they called the victim's mother, threatening to harm her son and demanding ransom, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Currently, the remaining accomplice C, in his 30s, is on the run, with police cooperating with local authorities to track him down.

On this day, the defense attorneys for the defendants stated that, due to the consolidation of the trials and the prosecution's reorganization of evidence, they had not finished reviewing the evidence statements and would present their opinions at the next hearing.

The court said, "There is not much time left for the trial," and added, "Since substantial arguments have not yet taken place, please be sure to state your opinions on the evidence by the next hearing."

The court also requested, "Please submit witness applications in advance so that witness examinations can be conducted at the next hearing."

The next hearing is scheduled to be held in the same courtroom on September 10.

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