Lt. Col. Wirot, part of the assassination team and shooter of MP Kamolsak, has been arrested as the last suspect in the case. He was hiding near the Thai-Myanmar border and arrangements have been made to extradite him back to Thailand for legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
Regarding the incident where assailants shot at the vehicle of MP Kamolsak Leewamo, MP for Narathiwat's 4th district from the Prachachart Party, authorities have already arrested four members of the assassination team, with one suspect still at large, as previously reported.
The latest update reports that police have arrested Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee on charges including premeditated attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition that cannot be licensed by the registrar, unauthorized carrying of weapons in public places without urgent necessity, unlawful discharge of firearms using explosives in populated areas, and attempted murder with unlicensed firearms.
This followed information received by Major General Natthaphong Asawinwong, commander of the 9th Infantry Division and head of the Surasi Task Force, who coordinated with Waristha Sanguansermsri, governor of Kanchanaburi Province, and Police Major General Pasavee Rueangphu, chief of Kanchanaburi Provincial Police. They were informed by border security sources in Sangkhlaburi that the suspect wanted in the shooting of MP Kamolsak Leewamo, MP for Narathiwat's 5th district, had fled via natural routes and was hiding along the border area of Sangkhlaburi. Orders were given to Colonel Pansak Priaopanich, commander of the Lad Ya task force of the Surasi Task Force, along with Colonel Piyanet Patrasawatwong, deputy commander of the same unit, to coordinate with Police Colonel Santi Pitaksakul, superintendent of Sangkhlaburi police station, immigration officials of Kanchanaburi, Border Patrol Police Company 134, local administration of Sangkhlaburi district, and other agencies to intensify inspections, crackdowns, and arrests decisively.
At 17:50, Colonel Piyanet Patrasawatwong coordinated with Police Lieutenant General Nopasit Poolsawat, commander assigned to the Royal Thai Police Office, and investigation units from Metropolitan Police Division 7, Kanchanaburi provincial police, and Police Colonel Santi Pitaksakul of Sangkhlaburi police station. They also coordinated with Myanmar military forces of the DKBA to hand over Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee to Police Colonel Santi Pitaksakul at the natural border checkpoint at Hok Phan Rai, Nong Lu subdistrict, Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province.
Lt. Col. Wirot is considered a key suspect because he borrowed a vehicle from Lieutenant Commander Montree Toprasert, a soldier of the Internal Security Operations Command in Narathiwat, and was the one who shot MP Kamolsak.
The police have now detained all five suspects involved in the operation, consisting of:
1. Mr. Somporn Langdet, a former marine and coordinator who planned and pointed out targets.
2. Mr. Alawi Awae, the driver.
3. Mr. Suntorn Promphakdee, owner of the garage where the vehicle used in the crime was dismantled.
4. Mr. Thanapat Watthanapinyon, a former ranger and shooter.
5. Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee, a former marine and shooter.
Initially, Police Lieutenant General Nopasit Poolsawat, police commander assigned to the Royal Thai Police Office, and Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's investigation division, have taken control of the suspects for detailed interrogation in Bangkok. This is to expand the investigation into the motives and any additional parties involved. Meanwhile, authorities are gathering further evidence to proceed with legal action.
Further updates will be reported in due course.