Officials raided a riverside warehouse in Tak Bai district to collect parts of a dismantled pickup truck for examination. This followed the arrest of two father-and-son suspects in the attempted shooting of MP Kamolsak, whose leads helped track down an M16 rifle and the vehicle dismantling site used in the attack.
Update on the case where unknown assailants used a white four-door pickup truck of unknown make and license plates as a vehicle, armed with a military-grade weapon.An M16 rifle.They followed and shot at a black Toyota car registered in Yala belonging to Kamolsak Liwamo, 59, Member of Parliament for Narathiwat’s 5th District from the Prachachart Party, while he was returning from Hat Yai Airport.
The incident occurred on 20 March 2016 in front of a residence in Village 9, Phetkasem Road, Bajoh Subdistrict, Bajoh District, Narathiwat. Two people were injured: Ushalum Kola, 55, the driver, and Police Corporal Harirak Heemminah, 43, an officer.A police officer.The police officer was shot by the assailants and suffered serious injuries.
Subsequently, investigators issued arrest warrants under the Emergency Decree for four individuals: 1. Somporn Langdet, 57, a former marine soldier; 2. Yossakorn Langdet, 23, his son; 3. Alawi Awae, 24; and 4. Thanaphat Watthanapino, 41. Authorities arrested Somporn and Yossakorn on 29 March 2016, while Alawi and Thanaphat remain at large.Alawi Awae.Alawi Awae, 24, and Thanaphat Watthanapino, 41. Somporn and Yossakorn were apprehended on 29 March 2016; the other two suspects are still fugitives.
Most recently, at 1:00 p.m. on 1 April 2016, the investigation team collaborated with the EOD unit and Narathiwat's forensic department.They conducted a search.At two target locations: a warehouse-like garage built along the banks of the Bangnara River, and the riverbank itself about 100 meters from the garage, in Village 4, Baowong, Bang Khun Thong Subdistrict, Tak Bai District. This followed leads indicating the site was used to dismantle the white four-door pickup truck involved in the shooting.Used in the shooting.MP Kamolsak Liwamo, Narathiwat’s 5th District, Prachachart Party.
Upon arrival, the warehouse-like garage contained numerous dismantled parts from various car brands scattered in multiple spots. Officials found the remains of a white four-door pickup truck matching the vehicle recorded on CCTV on the day of the incident, dismantled and laid out. No license plates were found. The authorities collected and transported the parts for fingerprint and DNA analysis on the vehicle’s body. Initial investigations suggest these are parts of the pickup truck used in the attack.
Additionally, along the Bangnara Riverbank, officialsconducted an inspection.At the second target, they found and collected several small vehicle parts as evidence for forensic verification to determine whether they belonged to the pickup truck used by the perpetrators.
A security source involved in the investigation revealed that after arresting Somporn and Yossakorn, the father and son, they were taken for extended questioning at an interrogation center in Narathiwat.
Somporn denied involvement, and his son Yossakorn also denied participating in the crime but cooperated by providing information on individuals who had contact with his father before the incident. Officials tracked these names based on Yossakorn’s account,According to Yossakorn’s statements,which led to the seizure of two M16 assault rifles used in the attack, as well as the location where the pickup truck was dismantled.
All individuals connected to the weapons seizure and the vehicle dismantling site have been detained for further questioning, but authorities have not disclosed details. Once evidence and forensic results are finalized,collected by officials,authorities will hold a press conference. More time is needed for the investigation to determine the motive behind the attempted shooting of Kamolsak Liwamo, MP for Narathiwat’s 5th District, Prachachart Party.