A summary of the crimes and legal cases involving "Paeng Nanod," also known as Mr. Chaowalit, a notorious violent prisoner who became headline news after escaping prison and fleeing abroad.
Paeng Nanod has been involved in over 12 criminal cases since 2007, mostly serious offenses such as:
Homicide/attempted murder: He was involved in multiple incidents of shooting at police officers and attempted killings in Phatthalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.
Firearms offenses: Possession of military-grade weapons, including M16 rifles (5.56 caliber) and explosives.
Robbery: The main case that led to his 20 years and 6 months prison sentence involved robbing officials to free a suspect.
His most notorious act was escaping from the hospital:
October 2023: While in custody, he claimed illness and was transferred to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, where he picked the lock on his leg chains and escaped with his associates.
Clash in the Banthat mountain range: Authorities deployed forces to surround the Banthat mountains in Phatthalung, resulting in fierce gunfights. Paeng Nanod managed to break through the siege and escape again.
Escape to Indonesia: He disguised himself and forged a passport to hide in Medan and Bali, pretending to be mute to avoid communication with locals.
Currently, Paeng Nanod is held in Bang Kwang Central Prison after being arrested in Bali, Indonesia, in mid-2024 and extradited to Thailand. The latest updates are as follows:
Arrest: He was cornered in Indonesia after a hotel altercation involving assaulting a woman.
Latest news in April 2026: Reports say Paeng Nanod recorded an audio clip sent from prison complaining about unfair treatment, claiming legal harassment has denied him the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. He also exposed that some inmates have mobile phones. His brother confirmed the voice in the clip is indeed his.