the Thai Criminal Court sentenced a Samut Prakan local official to death

the Thai Criminal Court sentenced a Samut Prakan local official to death and sent his four accomplices to prison for life on charges relating to the murder of landfill opponent Suwat Wongpiyasathit in 2001. 
Prosecutors contended that the feud over the Rajathewa landfill in Samut Prakan was the motive for Suwat's murder. The prosecution singled out Somyuth Phumpakdee, former Rajathewa Tambon Administrative Organisation secretary, as the individual responsible for putting out the contract on Suwat's life. The four accomplices were named as Somkiat Kongkamee, Seri Klamchanuan, Prajak Sinphrom and Somchai Yodyoy. Another murder suspect, Nukul Thanakarn, was granted immunity in exchange for testifying as a prosecution witness.
In its summary of the case, the court said that Somyuth had initially contracted Somkiat to procure the gunman, Nukul to procure the murder weapon, and Somchai to help the gunman identify the victim. Seri was later hired as the gunman and Prajak was the motorcycle driver hired to assist in Seri's getaway. "Three eyewitnesses saw Seri shoot dead Suwat and forensic checks confirmed their accounts," the court said.