Phatthalung police have identified the group of assailants who ambushed and fatally shot "Kamnan Yong" inside his car. Authorities believe the motive stems from local political conflicts after the victim registered to run for head of the Tha Chamwong Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Rat Phum District, Songkhla Province. The killing reportedly angered a major Southern drug network, which had been attempting to promote their relative in local and provincial politics. Investigators are currently gathering evidence to prepare arrest warrants.
On 21 December 2025 in Phatthalung Province, reporters received updates on the case. On the evening of 19 December 2025, officers at Pa Bon Police Station were notified by a citizen that unknown gunmen had fired at a seven-seater vehicle, resulting in one fatality. The incident occurred on the Phru On–Tha Maprang road in Village No. 1, Thung Nari Subdistrict, Pa Bon District, Phatthalung. Police promptly proceeded to the scene with local rescue volunteers, the duty doctor from Pa Bon Hospital, and forensic investigators from Phatthalung.
At the scene along the road, officers found a bronze silver Toyota Fortuner with license plate Kor 2428 Songkhla overturned beside the road. The driver's side door had two bullet holes. Bullets penetrated and struck the driver in the right rib area, exiting through the left side, and also hit the right arm, causing death. The victim was later identified as Payom Sangthong, 64, also known as Kamnan Yong, former head of Tha Chamwong Subdistrict in Rat Phum District, Songkhla, and a candidate for head of the Tha Chamwong SAO, number 2, leading the New Power Development Team of Tha Chamwong. Kamnan Yong was returning after dropping off locals who helped with his campaign. About 500 meters from the incident site, on the road toward Thung Nari Subdistrict, Pa Bon District, a remote area near the border, unknown assailants in a car followed and ambushed him, firing until he was killed.
On 21 December 2025, investigative teams from Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, the Provincial Police Region 9, and the Crime Suppression Division continued examining the scene and tracing the route from Kamnan Yong's election coordination center. They reviewed CCTV footage and suspicious vehicles, including pickup trucks and sedans, seen acting unusually before the shooting, gathering evidence. Partial data has been extracted from Kamnan Yong’s mobile phone before his death, but authorities have withheld details to preserve the integrity of the case.
According to sources within the investigative team, the motive behind the assassination increasingly points to local political rivalry. The mastermind is believed to be "Bang Lee," a major Southern drug syndicate leader who sought to promote his relative in local and provincial Songkhla politics. Before registering as a candidate, Kamnan Yong had been ordered not to run, but local residents urged him to participate until he was ultimately eliminated.
Bang Lee, known as a Southern drug kingpin, previously faced charges for international drug trafficking. He fled to the Tha Khilek District in Myanmar, then escaped to Bali, Indonesia. He reportedly has close ties to "Sia Paeng" Na Noh, Chaowalit Thongduang, a significant prisoner who facilitated Paeng's escape to a third country. Authorities eventually tracked and captured Bang Lee to prosecute him.