MP Kamolsak opens up about who orchestrated the assassination behind "Somporn," the mastermind, amid suspicions regarding a vehicle dismantling garage and the procurement of new ammunition after shooting practice had issues causing problems with the bullets used.
The shooter was captured yesterday (22 Apr 2026) after hiding since 20 Mar 2026, following the attack on Mr. Kamolsak Leewamo, MP for Narathiwat District 5, Prachachart Party, outside his residence at Village No. 9, Phetkasem Road, Bajoh Subdistrict, Bajoh District, Narathiwat Province on 20 Mar 2026. The assailant fled the area but was apprehended near Mon Bridge close to the border crossing in Kanchanaburi Province.
In the case, the assailant used a white four-door pickup truck with unknown plates belonging to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Narathiwat as the vehicle. The shooter used an M16 rifle to fire at Mr. Kamolsak Leewamo's car outside his residence in Village No. 9, Phetkasem Road, Bajoh Subdistrict, Bajoh District, Narathiwat on 20 Mar 2026, injuring driver Ushalum Kola and police officer Harirak Himmina seriously. Authorities subsequently issued arrest warrants for five suspects, detained four, and recently arrested retired Marine Captain Wirot Ketumanee as the fifth suspect and shooter.
During interrogation, retired Marine Captain Wirot confessed to shooting. While a lieutenant commander, he worked abroad for the United Nations for 16 years. After returning to Thailand without a job, he stayed at Mr. Somporn's house, who assisted with expenses. Whether Wirot took assignments from Somporn remains under investigation. Regarding borrowing the ISOC vehicle, Wirot admitted initially lending it before the attack, but details are still being probed. Other suspects also confessed but gave conflicting statements. Whether this leads to the masterminds remains unclear, as suspects continue to shift blame.
One month after the shooting, Mr. Kamolsak Leewamo, MP for Narathiwat District 5, Prachachart Party, has sought justice to punish the orchestrators. Thairath Online’s special team traced the assassination plot to his residence in Narathiwat Province, where heightened surveillance was observed due to suspicious vehicles parked for extended periods beside and opposite his house.
MP Kamolsak told Thairath Online’s special team that on the day of the attack, after the first gunshot, the bullets hit the driver before the first shot.
Approximately the first five bullets struck the driver, followed by a large volley of gunfire. Based on personal analysis, the hit squad had tracked him since Hat Yai, using a four-door vehicle that was later dismantled. After the attack, the assailants called someone, saying, “The shooting mission is complete; come in five minutes.” This indicates others were involved beyond the five captured suspects.
The team observed that one of the captured accomplices owns a garage that dismantled the vehicle used in the attack. Mr. Kamolsak noted that many vehicle wrecks are at the garage. The detainee is "Mr. Suntorn," and Somporn arranged to bring the vehicle there for dismantling.
There remain doubts whether the garage regularly dismantles vehicles. No further investigation into this has been conducted yet.
Somporn is a key figure in solving the case. Mr. Kamolsak said the team had monitored attempts to ambush him three to four times previously but lacked opportunity to shoot. Each time before tracking, they gathered at Somporn’s house. Some facts have emerged from suspects who confessed.
It is known the shooting plan had been in development for months, not just days, and alarmingly, shooting practice was held. During practice, problems with the assailants’ firearms and ammunition arose, requiring replacement with new bullets brought by an unidentified person.
Regarding the borrowed vehicle from ISOC used in the attack, footage from the car’s dashcam showed a sticker indicating frequent border crossings into Malaysia. Initial checks led to identifying the dismantled vehicle by engine number, confirming it belonged to ISOC. The facts revealed not only the vehicle’s involvement but also that a former soldier, who lent the car, remains an active service member.
What needs to be clarified is who else besides the five captured perpetrators was involved. Personally, I believe there were more than five assailants. The post-attack phone communications clearly indicate this, especially based on phone call evidence.
After one month, although warrants were quickly issued, the involvement of state agencies has complicated matters. Nonetheless, we are confident the investigation is straightforward and will reach the masterminds.
Thairath Online's special team visited the three southern border provinces to investigate the assassination attempt on MP Kamolsak. Security sources analyzed that, based on experience, the incident likely does not involve southern insurgent groups.
However, from another perspective, political conflicts and disputes with local influential figures are worth considering. MP Kamolsak has worked extensively, potentially causing friction with local power brokers. Notably, the shooter was a former serviceman in an area under that unit's jurisdiction, and some ex-servicemen still live with families there. This may be related to the attack, but a thorough investigation is needed.
