The shooter of MP Kamolsak remained silent when questioned about who ordered the attack and his hesitation before shooting, while police escorted him onto a plane bound for Narathiwat for further investigation.
The case involves assailants driving a military-affiliated pickup truck and firing an M16 rifle at the vehicle of MP Kamolsak Liwamo, MP for Narathiwat District 5 from the Prachachat Party, near his residence in Bajoh District, Narathiwat Province, on 20 March 2026. Yesterday (22 Apr), police detained Lieutenant Commander Wiroj Ketumanee, one of the suspects wanted on charges of premeditated attempted murder, and then placed him in custody at Phaya Thai Police Station.
This morning (23 April 2026), the Metropolitan Police investigation unit took Lieutenant Commander Wiroj to the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division for questioning. During this, officers fitted him with a bulletproof vest before transferring him by van to the Police Aviation Division (Don Mueang) to be flown to the Narathiwat Provincial Police Headquarters for further investigation, with close protection from the Metropolitan Police investigation team.
Reporters tried to question Lieutenant Commander Wiroj on several issues, including who masterminded the attack, the reason for his hesitation before shooting, and his stress after arrest, but he did not answer any questions. He kept his head down as police escorted him onto the plane, which is expected to arrive in Narathiwat at 09:30, after which he will be detained pending a court hearing tomorrow (24 Apr).
Reports indicate that Lieutenant Commander Wiroj confessed to police that he was the one who shot MP Kamolsak. He came to Narathiwat because he knew Mr. Somporn, one of the suspects, and learned from him about the plan to shoot MP Kamolsak. However, he claimed he did not know who ordered the attack.
The reason MP Kamolsak survived was because Lieutenant Commander Wiroj hesitated while pulling the trigger; for some unknown reason, he fired at the front of the vehicle instead. Police remain skeptical and plan to continue the investigation.
Regarding his relationship with MP Kamolsak, Lieutenant Commander Wiroj stated he did not know him personally but knew information about him through Mr. Somporn. He also revealed that he previously served in Narathiwat during 1990–1991 as a marine officer and was the commanding officer of Mr. Somporn before being arrested on charges of conspiring to kill MP Kamolsak.