Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police have arrested a man wanted for the cold-blooded murder of a temple layman 13 years ago, following a dispute over unpaid wages worth more than 500,000 baht. The suspect had been hiding in a remote durian orchard in the hills of Surat Thani Province.

 

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Wittaya Sriprasertphap, ordered the arrest operation through Pol. Col. Phattarawut Onchuay and Pol. Lt. Col. Sarit Chamnikrai from Crime Suppression Division 5. Officers apprehended the suspect, Mr. Narit 58, at a secluded hut in Moo 3, Ban Rai Nuea, Thung Tao Subdistrict, Ban Na San District.

 

The arrest was made under a warrant issued by Pattani Provincial Court (Warrant No. จ.343/2555 dated 6 November 2012) for charges of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and carrying a firearm in public without a permit or justifiable reason. Mr. Narit was listed as a high-priority suspect, number 199 on the Royal Thai Police’s 2025 Most Wanted List.

 

According to police reports, in 2012 the suspect was working as a rubber plantation labourer for a temple in Na Pradu Subdistrict, Khok Pho District, Pattani. A conflict arose between him and Mr. Winai, a waiyawatchakorn(temple lay steward), who oversaw payment for the plantation work. Mr. Narit claimed he was never paid the 500,000 baht owed to him for his labour.

 

The dispute escalated into a heated argument, during which Mr. Narit drew a .38 calibre handgun and shot Mr. Winai in the head three times at point-blank range, killing him instantly. He then fled the scene and vanished without a trace.

 

Investigators now discovered that the suspect had taken refuge deep in the mountains of Surat Thani, working quietly as a hired hand at a durian plantation in Thung Tao. He had remained undetected for over a decade.

 

Upon arrest, Mr. Narit confessed to the crime and was transported to Na Pradu Police Station in Pattani for prosecution.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-05

 

 

 

Looks like Anutin' put on a lot of weight and armed himself with a very long gun to sniff out the perp from the durian orchard🤔

Looks like the layman stole from the wrong labourer.