Crime Krabi Political Murder: Three Arrested in Local Power Struggle Killing

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Police have arrested three suspects linked to a high-profile political murder in Krabi, believed to be motivated by local election rivalries. The suspects include two local officials and a relative, all of whom have denied the charges and will fight the case in court.

 

The arrests, carried out by Region 8 Police Investigation Division and officers from Krabi Provincial Police and Lam Thap Police Station, followed the fatal shooting of 51-year-old Mr Karun, a key political canvasser in the Lam Thap area. He was ambushed and gunned down outside his home on 12 April 2025 with a shotgun, suffering more than ten wounds across his body.

 

Authorities believe the murder was premeditated and politically motivated. Mr Karun had long been aligned with a faction opposed to the suspects and with local elections looming within the next year, investigators believe his influence posed a threat to his political rivals.

 

The three suspects arrested are:

 

• Mr Panya “Toon”, 49, alleged to be the gunman, arrested at an unnumbered residence in Saai Khao subdistrict, Khlong Thom District.

 

• Mr Suthin, 41, a subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) member, arrested at his home in Lam Thap District.

 

• Mr Taweesak “Benz”, 37, a village headman, also from Lam Thap, where he was detained with a .38 revolver seized for examination.

 

Police also seized a long-barrel shotgun from Mr Suthin’s residence. All three men have been charged with murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful carrying of weapons in public and discharging a firearm without cause in a residential area.

 

Despite the mounting forensic and witness evidence linking them to the crime, including CCTV audio capturing six shotgun blasts at the scene, all three suspects have denied involvement during interrogation.

 

Police reports confirm that Mr Panya, the alleged shooter, is the uncle of co-accused Mr Suthin. Investigators claim the three were part of the same political faction that saw Mr Karun as a serious electoral threat.

 

The case has drawn intense public interest due to its connection to local politics and the brazenness of the killing. While the suspects are entitled to a legal defence, police are confident in the strength of their case, which they say includes both scientific and testimonial evidence.

 

Authorities continue to urge the public to remain calm and allow the justice system to proceed.

 

The suspects are currently in custody and will face trial in Krabi Provincial Court.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1357684-man-gunned-down-outside-his-home-in-krabi-police-suspect-the-killer-knew-victim’s-routine/

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-07-22