Crime Police Arrest Contract Killer Wanted for Murder of Village Head

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

 

A suspected contract killer wanted for the murder of a prominent village headman in Trang has been arrested in a dawn raid on Koh Lanta, Krabi province.

 

More than 20 officers from Region 9 Provincial Police and Trang investigators surrounded a house in Saladan subdistrict, Koh Lanta, at 07.30 on 21 August and detained 33-year-old Thawatchai, also known as “Ek”.

 

 

He was wanted on a Trang Provincial Court warrant for the fatal shooting of Mr Bandit Rongphon, 57, better known as “Kamnan Len”, who was gunned down outside his home in Na Wong subdistrict, Huai Yot district, on the night of 3 August. Mr Bandit was the headman of Na Wong and president of the district’s headmen and village chiefs association.

 

Thawatchai faces charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and carrying a weapon in public without permission. He is being transported back to Trang for questioning and further investigation.

 

Police revealed that the suspect is already wanted on five warrants, including charges of abducting a minor, involvement in the trafficking of 2.5 million methamphetamine pills in Phrae, narcotics offences and two counts of murder. He has been listed as the number one contract killer in Region 9’s blacklist and number 190 on the Royal Thai Police’s national list, with a bounty of 100,000 baht.

 

Trang provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Pattharawit Keetmonteeyakul declined to comment, saying officers were still gathering evidence. A press conference with the provincial governor is scheduled for 22 August.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1368683-trang-village-chief-gunned-down-in-late-night-ambush/

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khomchadluek 2025-08-22