THAILAND'S Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has apologised to Russian visitors and pledged stronger security measures after the deaths of two Russian siblings and three members of a Thai family in Chonburi, warning that the killings had damaged confidence in one of the country's most popular tourism regions.
Anutin travelled to Chonburi on Saturday with National Police Chief Kitrat Phanphet to inspect locations linked to the investigation into the deaths of the five victims.
At about 2pm, the Prime Minister visited a site near a motorway where the bodies of the Russian siblings were allegedly buried.
He later inspected another nearby location where the remains of a Thai father, mother and daughter were recovered after they were allegedly killed and concealed in a single grave.
Anutin appeared visibly distressed as he surveyed the scenes and received briefings from investigators.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the case had harmed Thailand's reputation and could affect confidence in Chonburi and Pattaya, both internationally recognised tourism destinations.
"We must restore confidence as much as possible," he said.
Anutin said the incident had damaged the image of the entire country, not only because two foreign visitors had been killed but also because three Thai nationals had lost their lives.
"They did not only kill two foreign nationals," he said. "They also damaged the reputation of Thai people across the country."
He said the government must reassure both international visitors and the public that similar incidents would not be allowed to happen again.
Anutin instructed authorities to intensify patrols and inspections, particularly in areas where serious crimes could potentially be concealed or repeated.
"We must give foreigners the greatest possible confidence," The Nation cited him saying.
"I apologise to the Russian people and offer my condolences, especially when they have encouraged people from their country to visit ours."
The Prime Minister stressed that the case involved the alleged actions of individual offenders and should not be interpreted as evidence that Thailand as a whole was unsafe.
"This was an outrageous incident, but it does not mean that our country is unsafe," he said. "It was the act of bad individuals."
Anutin said authorities must act quickly to restore public trust and protect Thailand's tourism image.
He described the killings as particularly brutal, suggesting that the suspects may have intended not only to rob the victims but also to kill them to prevent identification.
He also believed those involved were familiar with the area, based on the locations allegedly chosen to carry out the crimes and conceal the bodies.
However, he stressed that the final circumstances and criminal responsibility would depend on police investigations, prosecution and court proceedings.
The two main suspects were reportedly released from prison before the latest case. Anutin instructed police to conduct a full investigation and ensure those responsible were brought before the courts.
Reports involving the Thai family suggested that four people may have been involved, while two suspects had already been detained in connection with the wider investigation.
On calls for the suspects to receive the death penalty, Anutin said capital punishment remained available under Thai law but could only be imposed at the court's discretion.
"The matter depends on the court's judgement," he said.
"If the court orders the death penalty in a serious and repeated case of this nature, the government, which oversees the Department of Corrections and the Royal Thai Police, must ensure that the legal process is carried out."
He said offenders convicted of exceptionally serious crimes should not be allowed to become an example that encourages others to commit similar offences.
The Prime Minister added that existing laws already provided penalties for serious criminal offences and that he saw no immediate need for changes to criminal legislation.
He also addressed concerns over sentence reductions and parole, saying decisions involving early release would be handled carefully under his administration.
The authorities are continuing investigations into the deaths, the roles of each suspect and whether both cases were connected to the same group of alleged offenders. - August 2, 2026
