Crime Police Arrest Man Who Hired Hitmen to Murder Local Official

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Police have arrested a 67-year-old man accused of orchestrating the murder of a local subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) member in a revenge killing linked to family violence.

 

On 7 August, Pol. Maj. Gen. Witthaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), ordered a raid that led to the arrest of Mr Arkom, at a rubber plantation worker’s quarters in Khao Khen subdistrict, Plai Phraya district, Krabi province. Mr Arkom is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by Wiang Sa Provincial Court on 9 February 2023, on charges including conspiracy to commission murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and carrying weapons in public without a permit.

 

The case stems from the fatal shooting of Mr Boontham, 54, a member of the Ipahn Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in Phra Saeng district, Surat Thani province. On 8 January 2023, Mr Boontham was gunned down with over ten shots while driving home from a meal with friends near Phra Saeng intersection on Highway 4133.

 

Following extensive investigation, police identified seven suspects linked to the crime, including planners, the gunmen, drivers, and accomplices. All suspects have criminal records involving drugs, firearms or violent offences. Among them, Mr Arkom is alleged to have hired the hit team for 200,000 baht. The main shooter, Mr Ekachai, revealed that he and Mr Arkom were acquaintances from a previous prison term. After receiving payment in December 2022, the hired team carried out the assassination.

 

The motive was reportedly family conflict. The victim had a mistress and was abusive towards his lawful wife, who is Mr Arkom’s niece. Outraged by the repeated abuse and the victim’s indulgence in another woman, Mr Arkom arranged for the hit to avenge his niece’s suffering.

 

After the murder, Mr Arkom fled to mountainous areas in Lan Saka district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Police tracked him to Plai Phraya, Krabi, where he was eventually captured. He denies all charges and is currently held at Phra Saeng Police Station awaiting prosecution.

 

Notably, Mr Arkom has a notorious criminal past, including a triple homicide in Krabi province in 1993, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He served 14 years at Bang Kwang Central Prison and was released in 2008. Since then, he has remained influential among Southern Thailand’s hired gun circles and is suspected of involvement in multiple unsolved violent crimes.

 

Authorities continue to investigate and monitor associated criminal networks linked to this case.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-08-09