Dupre was arrested by Canadian police in Alberta on February 21st 2022 only 18 days after the Friday night murder in Phuket on February 4th 2022. His suspected associate, Mr Gene Karl Lahrkamp, died in a plane crash while on the run on April 30th 2022 in Ontario Canada.
The Extradited Canadian suspect Matthew Dupre, accused of being one of two hitmen who murdered Indian drug kingpin Jimmy Sandhu in February last year, is to be tried in Bangkok and will not appear before a court in Phuket where the late-night murder took place outside Sandhu’s luxury villa on the resort island. This was confirmed last week by Phuket’s police chief, General Sermphan Sirikong.
Matthew Dupre, the former Canadian elite forces specialist who was extradited from Alberta in Canada to Thailand on Sunday the 28th of May is to stand trial for the murder of 32-year-old Indian-born gangster Jimmy Sandhu in Phuket on February 4th 2022, in Bangkok.
The killing is thought by authorities to have been a contract killing with its origins in Canada from where Jimmy Sandhu was deported back to India in 2016 after becoming involved in gangland violence and feuds.
Officials in Phuket, last week, made it clear that the extradited suspect and defendant before the courts would not be transferred to stand trial before the Phuket Provincial Court which first issued an arrest warrant for him just days after the murder which was subsequently the basis for his swift arrest by Canadian police in the province of Alberta on February 21st 2022.
Second suspect died in a plane crash in Ontario on April 30th 2022 while on the run from Canadian police seeking his extradition to Thailand also
The other man that took part in what authorities believe was a contract killing was Canadian Gene Karl Lahrkamp who died in a plane crash on April 30th last in Ontario, Canada before his arrest following the extradition request from Thai authorities for both men.
He was killed while on the run with other criminal elements.
The reason given by Thai officials for the trial being held in Bangkok is that the case is related to international organised crime.
Suspected Canadian hired killer extradited back to Thailand to face trial for premeditated murder
Phuket murder hit suspect dies in Canadian plane crash days after being declared ‘most wanted’ by police
On Sunday night, May 28th, after his return to Bangkok aboard a special A340 flight with an armed tactical police unit aboard and a Royal Thai Air Force crew of 30 people, it was reported that the defendant was being transferred into the custody of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Phuket police chief says that this is because the case is one linked to international organised crime
Last week, Police Major General Sermphan Sirikong, the Phuket police chief, speaking with The Phuket News, explained the position.
‘He is being held in prison in Bangkok,’ Major General Sirikong disclosed. ‘This case happened in Phuket but involves transnational organised crime. Phuket had the arrest warrant issued, but then we transferred the case to the Central Investigation Bureau [CIB].’
It is understood that this is because the extradition of the suspect was handled by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) which works closely with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on such cases.
Phuket officers may be called as witnesses
‘The CIB then requested a Red Notice and then through the Office of the Attorney General had him extradited from Canada,’ said Major General Sermphan. ‘He will be prosecuted in Bangkok. Now, the CIB is processing everything.’
The senior police officer said he is not sure yet if officers involved in the highly successful investigation by the Royal Thai Police last year, will travel to Bangkok to testify at the trial of the accused who, it is understood, is facing trial for premeditated murder which carries the death penalty in Thailand.
‘I am not sure yet if Phuket officials will have to get involved in the court at some stage as we were involved in the case from the beginning,’ the commanding officer in Phuket explained.
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Further reading:
Suspected Canadian hired killer extradited back to Thailand to face trial for premeditated murder
Canadian hitmen ‘suicidal’ as cops open murder conspiracy case after Thai police tour de force
Phuket tourist murder on Friday night was an international gangland hit on a known drug player
Drug trafficking convictions linked with Pattaya Hells Angels Biker plot quashed by Supreme Court
‘Lupus Taiwan’ drug fiend and K Nompong mixer arrested by police squad including the Police Chief
