Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

A Chinese national wanted for attempted murder in his home country has been arrested in Bangkok after evading capture for more than two decades.

 

On April 5, Pol. Lt. Gen. Wittaya Sriprasertphap, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), ordered the arrest of Mr. Zhang, also known as “Lao Er,” aged 52, at a housing estate in the Sathorn–Ratchaphruek area of Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district.

 

 

Mr. Zhang, who had been operating a popular mala skewer restaurant in central Bangkok, was apprehended under an arrest warrant issued by the Thai Criminal Court on 17 May 2024 for the charge of “causing grievous bodily harm.” Authorities also seized a Thai driver’s licence during the arrest.

 

The arrest followed a formal request from Chinese authorities for cooperation in apprehending Mr. Zhang. He had allegedly shot a fellow Chinese national, Mr. Zhou, in 2003 in Shantou, Guangdong province, leaving the victim critically injured. Following the incident, Zhang fled China, living under false identities in Vietnam and Cambodia for over 20 years before settling in Thailand.

 

CSD officers discovered Zhang had been using a fake Vietnamese passport under the name “Mr. Ly Thanh.” He had been living with his Chinese girlfriend, Ms. Deng, and co-running the popular mala restaurant. The couple resided in an upscale Bangkok neighbourhood, where Zhang was ultimately located and detained.

 

During interrogation, Zhang admitted to the shooting. Thai authorities are now working with the Office of the Attorney General to initiate extradition proceedings, which will see him returned to China to face justice.

 

-- 2025-04-06