A 36-year-old Thai woman was accused of being one of the worst serial killers in the country’s history and sentenced to death for killing a friend by poisoning her with cyanide, which she committed 14 years ago. was the first of the murders.

Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, an online gambling addict, is accused of defrauding her victims of thousands of dollars before murdering them, AFP reported.

The “serial killer” was sentenced on Wednesday. Bangkok Court for poisoning and killing his friend Saripur Kanong.

Sarat and Sripuran reportedly met each other in April 2023 to release fish into the Mae Klong River near Bangkok for a Buddhist ritual.

After eating with Seerat, Sripuran collapsed and died shortly thereafter. When he was found, his phone, money and other belongings were missing.

As his relatives refused to believe he died of natural causes, Sripuran’s autopsy revealed traces of cyanide in his body.

Sarat was arrested, and eventually, police were able to uncover his connection to an unsolved cyanide poisoning case that began in 2015, officials said.

After the trial, Sripooran’s mother, Tongpin Kechanasri, told reporters, “The court’s decision is right. I want to tell my daughter that I miss her a lot, and that justice was served today.” is.”

Tongpin said Sarat was smiling as her sentence was read in court, the BBC reported. The accused pleaded not to accept the charges leveled against him.

‘Poisonous Herb Capsules’

Meanwhile, police said Sarat used to fund his gambling addiction by taking money from his victims, in one such case borrowing 300,000 baht (about $9,000) before killing them. Go and steal their belongings.

She managed to persuade 15 people to take “herbal capsules” which she poisoned with cyanide. One of the victims survived, police said.

Sarat now faces a further 13 counts of murder, and has been charged with nearly 80 crimes in total.

Her ex-husband, a former police lieutenant colonel, was also sentenced to one year and four months in prison for concealing evidence and helping Sarat evade arrest. The accused’s lawyer was also sentenced to two years in prison. The BBC report said that both of them pleaded not guilty.

Sarat’s ex-husband Vatuvan Rangsyuthapuran had reportedly surrendered to the police last year. The police said that she had probably helped the accused in poisoning one of her ex-boyfriends, Suthisak Ponkwan.

Additionally, the Bangkok court also ordered Sarat to pay two million baht ($57,667) in compensation to Sripuran’s family.

Cyanide is a poison that deprives body cells of oxygen, which can result in a heart attack. Early symptoms of cyanide poisoning may include dizziness, shortness of breath, and vomiting.

It can also cause death within seconds if overdosed.

Earlier this year, six foreign tourists were found dead inside a luxury hotel in central Bangkok. The Thai Forensic Division found traces of cyanide in empty coffee cups that police found in his room.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said two of the dead were Vietnamese-Americans and four were Vietnamese nationals.