Former Canadian Soldier Pleads Guilty in High-Profile Murder of Gangster Jimi Sandhu in Thailand

A former Canadian soldier has confessed to his role in the February 2022 killing of Jimi Sandhu, a gangster from British Columbia, during a court hearing in Bangkok.

Matthew Dupre, hailing from Sylvan Lake, Alberta, admitted his guilt on June 27, the day his trial was set to begin in the Thai capital.

Sgt. Brenda Winpenny, from the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), confirmed Dupre’s admission, stating, “The guilty plea in relation to the murder of Sandhu in Thailand speaks to the capabilities of CFSEU-B.C. when it comes to complex international investigations connected to the gang landscape and our ability to assist local and international agencies to advance investigations and hold individuals accountable.”

The dramatic killing took place at a beachfront resort in Phuket, and the entire incident was caught on CCTV in the parking area of the Beachfront Hotel. At the time, Sandhu was residing in a private waterfront villa adjacent to the hotel, where fake Canadian identification and cash were later found.

The CFSEU’s investigation into the murder conspiracy revealed it had roots in Canada. Although Sgt. Winpenny couldn’t comment on whether the investigation in Canada remains active, the case highlights the collaboration between local and international law enforcement agencies.

Postmedia reporters traveled to Thailand in December 2022 to delve into Sandhu’s murder. Sandhu, a member of the United Nations gang, was originally from Abbotsford but was deported to India in 2016 due to severe criminal activities. The murder was reportedly orchestrated by the Canadian-based Wolfpack gang.

Following the murder, police executed searches at Dupre’s home in Alberta, the residence of co-accused Gene Lahrkamp in Trail, and another suspect’s home in Ontario, who was never charged. Lahrkamp, who died while evading capture, was also implicated in the case.

Dupre was extradited in May 2023 and has been in custody in Thailand for the past 14 months. Thailand had previously waived the death penalty in this high-profile case.

Thai Royal Police shared evidence with Postmedia, which included surveillance footage from Phuket, car rental and hotel records, as well as DNA and fingerprints, all pointing to Dupre and Lahrkamp. The pair had arrived together at Phuket International Airport on December 18, 2021, and returned to Canada on February 8, 2022. They were quickly identified as suspects after the murder. Lahrkamp later died in a plane crash near Sioux Lookout, Ontario on April 30, 2022.

Both Dupre and Lahrkamp had military backgrounds, having served as corporals in the Canadian Armed Forces. Dupre’s LinkedIn profile details his combat experiences in Afghanistan against the Taliban, and his subsequent work as a private military contractor in Syria and Iraq, where he fought ISIS. His skills listed include “hand to hand combat, unconventional warfare, and sharpshooter.”

Sandhu, 32, had been a frequent visitor to Phuket since 2016. At the time of his death, he was wanted in India for trafficking, had just been banned from Malaysia, and had spent periods in Vietnam. He had rented the villa where he was killed in November 2021, left around Christmas, and was seen at a New Year’s Eve party at the five-star Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok. He returned to Phuket on January 27, 2022, eight days before his murder, arriving on a private jet from Malaysia. Thai police believe he was involved in the drug trade throughout Southeast Asia.