Ex-Navy Officer Extradited to Thailand for Murder of Exiled Cambodian Politician

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE

Picture of the handover.

 

Ekkalak “Sergeant Em” Paenoi, a 41-year-old former petty officer in the Royal Thai Navy, has been extradited to Thailand to face charges in the murder of Lim Kimya, a former member of the exiled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

 

Ekkalak stands accused of premeditated murder and firearm-related offences. After being formally charged, he reportedly confessed to the crime.

 

The murder occurred on 7 January, and Ekkalak was apprehended the following day in Battambang, Cambodia. Lim Kimya was shot in what police believe to be a targeted attack.

 

Ekkalak previously served as a technician with the Naval Electronics Department and was the commander of the 8th artillery unit. He graduated from the Naval Rating School but was discharged from service in 2023 for absenteeism. He had a record of disciplinary detentions in 2021 and 2022.

 

Investigators revealed that Ekkalak did not have the murder weapon in his possession at the time of his arrest. Financial transactions linked to his account are now under scrutiny. On the day of the shooting, 30,000 baht was deposited into his account. Ekkalak reportedly used 22,000 baht to repay a police officer after pawning his firearm. Another 30,000 baht was transferred to him after the attack. Authorities are investigating whether these payments are connected to the crime. The police officer involved has denied any connection to the murder.

 

Thai authorities are also pursuing another suspect, Kimrin Pich, a Cambodian national accused of identifying Lim Kimya to Ekkalak. According to reports, Kimrin traveled on the same bus as Lim Kimya before the attack and fled to Cambodia by air immediately afterward.

 

The investigation continues as authorities probe the circumstances surrounding the killing and possible financial motives.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1348317-thai-suspect-arrested-in-cambodia-for-ex-cambodian-mps-murder-in-bangkok/

 

-- 2025-01-12

 

 

[steven100]

So there you go ....   it didn't take them long to get their man.   

it appears someone has paid him to do the dirty work.  his problem was he didn't cover all his tracks ...  the cops would only have to look at bus station CCTV  and the bus CCTV to verify his travel. 

[flyingtlger]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The police officer involved has denied any connection to the murder.

LOL! Of course he did.....

[Tropicalevo]

60,000  baht for a hit these days.

Back in 2002, when a friend of mine was shot, the hit man only received 5,000 baht.

Paying folk to kill people is getting expensive.

[Enzian]

And why did he flee to Cambodia and not, say, Burma or elsewhere? People involved in Cambodia would have as much motive to liquidate him as to protect him, probably more. But apparently police there got him before he could get settled. And the Thai police had such good evidence that it couldn't be ignored. Now are we going to learn anything about how high up this goes in Cambodia? 

[Dave0206]

The Cambodian kimrin will be easy to spot he will either be found in a ditch or running with a target on his back 

[hotchilli]

On 1/12/2025 at 3:47 AM, Georgealbert said:

Ekkalak reportedly used 22,000 baht to repay a police officer after pawning his firearm. Another 30,000 baht was transferred to him after the attack. Authorities are investigating whether these payments are connected to the crime. The police officer involved has denied any connection to the murder.

Hmmmm