Karen activist ‘Billy’ killed and incinerated in oil drum - DSI

13 Sept 06:27 Key points summarised by AI

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) confirmed that Karen human rights defender Polajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen was murdered, his body incinerated in an oil drum, and dumped into a river in Kaeng Krachan national park.
DNA tests matched bone fragments recovered from the riverbed with Billy's mother, confirming his identity and the DSI's finding of pre-mediated murder and enforced disappearance.
The breakthrough came after DSI officials used drones and submersibles to scan the riverbed, locating a perforated oil drum containing bone fragments exposed to high heat.
Billy disappeared in 2014 after being arrested by park officials; the DSI is now gathering evidence to identify and prosecute the perpetrators involved in his killing.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.