In Nakhon Ratchasima, a local election turned violent when a Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) council member was shot dead near a village water tank. The victim’s wife suspects the motive was a local political conflict, after he had just been certified by the Election Commission to serve a second term as council member.
At 13:15 on 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7, an assailant shot Mr. Sunet Pakdee, 69, a council member of the Dan Chang Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Bua Yai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. He died near the village water tank at Ban Non Thong, Village No. 3, Dan Chang Subdistrict, Bua Yai District. The body showed a gunshot wound to the right temple that penetrated the skull. He was found lying on his back with blood pooling beneath him. A .38 caliber pistol was found near the body, and about 15 meters away, the victim’s dark green Isuzu pickup truck with license plate บฉ-935 Chaiyaphum was parked. Police from Bua Yai Station conducted a preliminary forensic examination and collected evidence at the scene.
According to local residents, around 10:00 on 18 Feb 2026 GMT+7, three gunshots were heard near the village water tank. The body of Mr. Sunet was discovered in the early afternoon. Later, forensic police from Nakhon Ratchasima’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit 3 arrived to conduct a detailed autopsy and collect evidence to support the investigation. Detectives from Bua Yai Police Station are reviewing CCTV footage to detect any unusual activity after the gunshots were heard, and are seeking witnesses to help resolve the case.
Mrs. Samran Pakdee, 63, wife of the deceased, revealed that before her husband left home, he received a phone call from another SAO council member and then drove his pickup truck out. She was busy with household chores and did not ask where he was going. The body was later found beneath the water tank, shot dead.
“I am puzzled by the cause of his death. My husband never had disputes with anyone. He had been a respected community leader since serving as village headman until his retirement, and then was elected as an SAO council member for his first term, gaining the villagers’ support. He was just re-elected for a second term, and the Election Commission recently certified his victory last month.”
Mrs. Samran added that before the certification, there was a complaint claiming her husband had improperly collected village water fees. However, the Election Commission confirmed the election results. She is confident that the motive behind her husband’s murder is related to local political conflicts.
Mr. Bank Pakdee, the victim’s son, stated that his father had always done good deeds. “Being elected as an SAO council member brings only a small salary. Why would it lead to such a violent killing? I want the police to expedite this investigation and quickly arrest the perpetrator so that justice can be served.”