Lt. Col. Wirot, part of the assassination team and shooter of MP Kamonsak, has been arrested. He was the last suspect in the case, hiding along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Coordination is underway to transfer him back to Thailand for legal proceedings.
In the case where assailants opened fire on the vehicle of MP Kamonsak Leewamo, MP for Narathiwat's 4th district from the Prachachart Party, authorities had previously apprehended four members of the "assassination team," with one suspect still at large, as reported earlier.
Latest updates indicate that police have arrested Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee on charges of attempted premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition that cannot be licensed, carrying weapons into towns and villages without permission and without urgent necessity, discharging explosive firearms in towns or villages, and using unlicensed firearms in connection with attempted premeditated murder.
Following information from security sources at the Sangkhla Buri border, Major General Natthapong Asawinwong, commander of the 9th Infantry Division and Surasi Task Force, coordinating with Waristha Sanguansermsri, governor of Kanchanaburi, and Police Major General Phasavee Rueangphu, provincial police chief, was informed that a key suspect in the shooting of MP Kamonsak Leewamo had fled through natural routes and was hiding near the Sangkhla Buri border area. Orders were given to Colonel Pansak Priewpanich, commander of the Lad Ya Task Force, along with Colonel Piyanet Patrasasawatwong, deputy commander, to coordinate with local police, immigration, border patrol, and district officials to intensify inspections, crackdowns, and arrests decisively.
Later at 17:50, Colonel Piyanet Patrasasawatwong coordinated with Police Lieutenant General Nopasilp Poolsawas, commander of the Office of the Royal Thai Police Commander, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Provincial Police Region 7, and Police Colonel Santi Pitaksakul, superintendent of Sangkhla Buri Police Station, to coordinate with Myanmar's DKBA military forces to hand over Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee at the natural border crossing at Hok Pan Rai, Nong Lu subdistrict, Sangkhla Buri district, Kanchanaburi province.
Lt. Col. Wirot is considered a key suspect in the case as he borrowed a vehicle from Lt. Commander Montri Toprasert, an officer in the Internal Security Operations Command in Narathiwat, and was the shooter of MP Kamonsak.
Police have now taken all five suspects involved in the case into custody, consisting of:
1. Mr. Somporn Langdech, a former marine, who coordinated, planned, and identified targets.
2. Mr. Alawi Awe, the driver.
3. Mr. Sunthorn Promphakdi, owner of the vehicle dismantling workshop used in the incident.
4. Mr. Thanaphat Watthanaphinyo, a former ranger and gunman.
5. Lt. Col. Wirot Ketumanee, a former marine and gunman.
Initially, Police Lieutenant General Nopasilp Poolsawas, the Royal Thai Police Commander in charge, and Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Investigation Division, have taken the suspects for detailed interrogation in Bangkok to expand the investigation into motives and possible accomplices. Meanwhile, authorities are gathering additional evidence to proceed with legal action.
Further updates will be provided in due course.