[Breaking] Three Defendants in 'Pattaya Drum Murder' Receive Heavy Sentences Again on Appeal

Defendants in the Pattaya Drum Murder Case in Thailand going to attend the pre-arrest interrogation. Photo by Lee Seryung

The defendants who were indicted and detained on charges of kidnapping, murdering, mutilating, and abandoning the body of a Korean tourist in his 30s at a reservoir in Pattaya, Thailand, in May 2025, have received heavy sentences again on appeal.

On July 16, the First Criminal Division of the Changwon Panel of the Busan High Court (Judges Min Dalgi, Park Jiyeon, and Park Geonhee) upheld the lower court's ruling, which sentenced 28-year-old defendant A and 40-year-old defendant B to death?the maximum penalty under the law?for robbery and murder, concealment of a corpse, and other charges, and sentenced 27-year-old defendant C to life imprisonment. The court dismissed the appeals from both sides.

Previously, the prosecution had requested the maximum penalty under the law?death?for defendants A and B, and life imprisonment for defendant C.