The man who pretended to have witnessed the death of Japanese businessman Kasitosi Tanaka 11 years ago is unlikely to be charged with providing a false statement.
Somsak Saelim, the key witness in the death of Kasitosi Tanaka, admitted to police the death was not an accident as he had been forced to claim at the time by his elder brother.
Mr Somsak on Saturday said he decided to come clean after learning that Samut Prakan police had re-opened the case following the arrest of his brother Somchai Kaewbangyang and Pornchanok Chaiyapa, 47 —...
Pol Lt Col Somchai Phiakhan, the head of the re-opened case, said Mr Somsak was unlikely to be charged.
Tanaka's death in 2003 was considered an accident until the late businessman's daughter lodged a petition last week calling into question the verdict that her father died from a heart attack after falling down the stairs.
Mr Somsak told police he was forced by Ms Pornchanok to tell police that his brother was not at Tanaka's shophouse the night he died.
Mr Somchai has confessed to murdering Tanaka and disguising it as an accident.
However, Pol Lt Col Chaiwat Thapanaphongphaibul, the investigator with Bang Phli district police station in charge of the original probe into Tanaka's death, would face an investigation to determine whether he distorted evidence so Tanaka's death was recorded as an accident.
Both Mr Somchai and Ms Pornchanok have been charged with the premeditated murder of Tanaka.