Porlajee went missing on April 17, 2014 while he was helping relatives to sue former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn for setting fire to their villages during forest evictions in Kaeng Krachan National Park. The DSI reopened the case last June and launched a murder probe after finding skull fragments in Kaeng Krachan reservoir. According to the DSI, nine more bone and skull fragments were retrieved from Kaeng Krachan reservoir in Phetchaburi last year. While a test on mitochondrial DNA from a skull fragment found previously had matched DNA of Porlajee's mother, the new samples did not match. Defence lawyer Pornchai Pruekpichailert said the petition challenged the DNA evidence, although he said his clients would not request additional questioning of any witnesses.

Source: Bangkok Post January 13, 2020 23:48 UTC