The hunt for a 37 year old inmate who escaped from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital led police to the Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary. This vast wildlife refuge, spanning 1266 square kilometres across Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, and Songkhla, is believed to be the hideout of Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng.

 

This discovery prompted a shift in law enforcement’s initial belief that the fugitive had successfully fled the country via the southern border province of Satun.

 

Chaowalit escaped between Saturday night and Monday morning during a dental appointment at the hospital. CCTV footage revealed him leaving the medical facility with another individual named Chirawut, also known as Luk Wua. They were seen departing in a white Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, which investigations later revealed to be driven by a third man, Chakkri, or Big.

 

Surveillance noted that this vehicle was accompanied by a black Honda Civic and an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. By tracking phone signals from the occupants of these vehicles, police determined they initially journeyed towards the Chian Yai and Cha-uat districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat, then shifted towards neighbouring Phatthalung.

 

Interestingly, upon reaching Sri Nakharin district of Phatthalung, the vehicles separated. The Mitsubishi truck headed to Satun, the Isuzu to Trang, and the Civic to Krabi. This led police to initially suspect that Chaowalit was in the Mitsubishi truck headed for Satun and potentially escaping to a neighbouring country.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-26

 

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12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Interestingly, upon reaching Sri Nakharin district of Phatthalung, the vehicles separated. The Mitsubishi truck headed to Satun, the Isuzu to Trang, and the Civic to Krabi. This led police to initially suspect that Chaowalit was in the Mitsubishi truck headed for Satun and potentially escaping to a neighbouring country.

 

Quite well planned and executed , it seems ...

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Chaowalit escaped between Saturday night and Monday morning

CCTV footage revealed him leaving the medical facility

So the prison was missing this convict from Sat night to Mon morning and didn't check with the hospital? The hospital itself didn't tell the police/prison that their convict-patient didn't show up for more than 24 hours? Was there no prison guard/police accompanying the prisoner for treatment? That hospital's CCTV footage doesn't have a timestamp to pinpoint the exact time and date he escaped? 

Several individuals were involved and had prior location knowledge, and coordinated transportation and communication... this was planned and organized...

Why are there no reporters asking these questions?