Bangkok: In a significant development, Bang Bua Thong police have arrested a suspect named "Sam" in connection with the murder of "Uthen." The suspect allegedly orchestrated the shooting and subsequent encasement of the victim's body in cement before it was dumped in a 300-rai pond. Despite the arrest, Sam maintains his innocence and continues to deny the charges against him.

According to Thai News Agency, the case came to light when Mr. Uten mysteriously disappeared, prompting his relatives to file a missing person report on May 19th at the Bang Bua Thong Police Station. The last known sighting of Mr. Uten was captured on CCTV footage on May 20th, around 10:13 PM. He was seen wearing a red t-shirt and shorts, leaving his home on a motorcycle to visit a close friend, after which he vanished without a trace.

The investigation gained traction when authorities were tipped off, leading to the arrest of another suspect, Mr. Bird. He confessed to his involvement in disposing of the body, revealing that he placed it in a water tank, covered it with cement, and used a boat to dispose of it in the pond on May 21st. Despite an extensive search operation by police, rescue workers, and divers, the body has yet to be recovered, although a long-barreled shotgun was discovered at the scene.

In a conversation with the news team, Mr. Bird disclosed that he had been friends with Mr. Uten since childhood. On the day of the incident, Mr. Sam allegedly shot Mr. Uten in the back of the head while he was distracted by a game on his phone. Under duress, Mr. Bird claimed he was forced to help conceal the crime by encasing the body in cement. He insists that he did not participate in the murder but was coerced into assisting in the disposal.

The motive for the crime is believed to be a personal conflict involving a woman. Meanwhile, Mr. Fa, the fish farm owner present at the scene, has been arrested on unrelated charges of narcotics possession.

The arrest of Mr. Sam was a coordinated effort between Bang Bua Thong Police Station and the Investigation Division of Nonthaburi Provincial Police. He was apprehended in a village within Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province. As Sam was escorted to the interrogation room, he maintained his innocence, telling the media, "I haven't done anything," before being taken into custody.

Currently, Mr. Sam is undergoing rigorous questioning by authorities as they work to collect further evidence and build a case against him.