Bangkok Police Arrest Fugitive in Pub Guard Kidnap Case

Picture courtesy of Daily News

Police in Bangkok have arrested a fugitive linked to the 2023 abduction and attempted murder of a nightclub guard in Min Buri. The arrest ends more than two years on the run for the suspect, who was wanted for his role in a violent gang attack. Officers said the man admitted to being part of the group that kidnapped the victim.

The case dates back to 2023 when officers from the Traffic Police Division set up an alcohol checkpoint near a shopping mall in Min Buri. During the operation, police stopped a suspicious vehicle and discovered five armed men with six guns. They had abducted a nightclub guard Mr. Uthen and were taking him to Bang Nam Prieo district, Chachoengsao, to threaten him after he confiscated a firearm and demanded a ransom for its return.

At the time, one of the suspects, identified as Mr. Pirun or “Bank”, managed to escape custody. The Min Buri Criminal Court later issued a warrant for his arrest on multiple charges including attempted murder, firearm offences, assault, intimidation and unlawful detention. The incident highlighted rising concerns over violent crimes linked to entertainment venues in Bangkok.

On 12 September 2025, Pol Col Krit Komnoi, chief of the Metropolitan Police Division 3 Investigation Unit, ordered a special team to track down the fugitive. Officers traced him to a condominium in Chachoengsao, where he had been hiding with his girlfriend. Surveillance confirmed his presence, and police moved in to arrest him when he left the building, executing the outstanding court warrant.

During questioning, Pirun confessed to being one of the assailants involved in the kidnapping of the pub guard. He was handed over to Min Buri police investigators to face prosecution. Authorities confirmed that his criminal history includes a 2014 case, in which he and five accomplices opened fire on a victim’s vehicle at a traffic light in Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani, killing one person.

Police said the arrest is an important step in ensuring accountability for the violent attack and deterring similar incidents. The suspect will face trial on the charges laid out in the warrant, while officers continue investigating links between entertainment venue security and organised crime.

Key Takeaways

• Bangkok police arrested a fugitive wanted for a 2023 nightclub guard abduction.

• The suspect was hiding in a Chachoengsao condominium with his girlfriend.

• He faces charges including attempted murder, firearms offences, and unlawful detention.

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Dailynews 2025-09-14