Notorious fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as "Sia Paeng Nanod", has been caught in Indonesia after a seven-month manhunt. He had escaped from a hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, last October and later engaged in a shootout with the police.

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the arrest on Thursday after receiving an update from Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Indonesian authorities apprehended Chaowalit in Bali.

 

The Justice Minister has already spoken to Chaowalit through a video call and plans to travel to Indonesia on Friday to facilitate his return to Thailand. It is reported that Chaowalit used a fake passport and pretended to be mute to avoid detection in Indonesia.

 

Minister Tawee quotes Chaowalit admitting feeling cornered during their video call. The minister encouraged Chaowalit to submit to the justice system, promising his safety. Upon his return to Thailand, authorities plan to investigate his suspected ties with a drug gang further.

 

Several women reportedly visited Chaowalit in Indonesia frequently. The details about these women and any money they might have carried remain undisclosed pending police investigations. His arrest came after a dispute with an Indonesian woman, which reportedly resulted in assault.

 

Chaowalit, aged 37, was serving time for attempted murder and faced several other charges, including murder and firearms possession. He escaped from the Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, where he had been taken for dental treatment, on October 22 last year.

 

He was tracked to a hideout in the Banthad mountain range in Trang on November 8. A gunfight ensued, but he managed to flee. Despite intense efforts to capture him, Chaowalit evaded the authorities. It was later assumed that he fled Thailand by speedboat from Satun.

 

He claimed innocence while on the run, saying he had been unjustly treated. He alleged that he was the only person sentenced for crimes performed by multiple people, and that his bail plea for a pending murder case was managed unfairly.

 

These claims were dismissed by the Ministry of Justice due to his extensive criminal record. On December 25, he was sentenced in absentia by a court to life imprisonment for attempted murder. This case was about a restaurant shooting incident that occurred on September 9, 2019, in Phatthalung's Muang district. He was indicted along with four others for attempting to murder a court assistant. Each was handed a life sentence.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-05-30

 

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time to face the music

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The minister encouraged Chaowalit to submit to the justice system, promising his safety

and a stay at the Police Hospital.

Caught him quick , unlike a certain someone ! 🤔

Criminals ,on the run , ultimately done in by their women or close associates after altercations . If they only keep their head under the radar, there are many ASEAN countries to seek shelter. 

I still find it strange that a PM comments or is even asked about an arrested criminal, even after many years here. 

Was just reading today that the Thai Minister of Justice is flying to Indonesia to "bring him back".  They just can't stop from patting themselves on the back and getting a photo op.