Pictures courtesy of Matichon

Thai Immigration Region 5 has ordered an internal investigation after a Myanmar national suspected of rape and murder was mistakenly deported, despite being under criminal investigation in Thailand. Senior officers have vowed that those responsible will face both disciplinary and criminal action, while coordination has begun with Myanmar authorities to track down the suspect and return him to Thailand for prosecution.

The case emerged after a complaint was publicised by news outlets and social media pages, in which a woman sought justice for her mother, who was allegedly raped and murdered by a Myanmar employee on 11 November 2025. The suspect was later transferred to Tak Provincial Immigration but was deported back to Myanmar, even though he was still within the criminal justice process.

On 3 January 2026, Pol Col Sarawut Wate, Deputy Commander of Immigration Region 5 and its spokesperson, said Maj Gen Sarawut Khon Yai, Commander of Immigration Region 5, had ordered a fact-finding inquiry. He confirmed that Tak Provincial Immigration had been instructed to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the deportation.

Investigators established that on 15 November 2025, Phawo Police Station in Tak province transferred the suspect, identified as Mr Thonta Aung, a Myanmar national, to Tak Provincial Immigration for deportation. On the same day, police issued a formal letter requesting a delay in deportation, as the man was a suspect in a murder case, although no arrest warrant had yet been issued because DNA test results were still pending.

On 18 December 2025, investigators from Phawo Police Station obtained a court-issued arrest warrant for Mr Thonta Aung on a charge of murder and attempted to take him into custody. It was then discovered that he had already been deported on 16 November 2025, as part of a group of 50 Myanmar nationals removed from Thailand by immigration officers in Tak.

Immigration officers involved in the deportation stated they had not received any notification requesting a delay. Immigration Region 5 has now appointed a formal investigative committee to examine the conduct of detention and deportation staff on duty at the time, treating the incident as a clear operational failure.

Matichon reported that authorities said the inquiry will determine whether the lapse resulted from intentional misconduct or negligence, which will guide disciplinary proceedings and possible criminal charges. Immigration Region 5 has also dispatched an investigative team to coordinate with Myanmar officials to locate the suspect and secure his return to Thailand.

Key Takeaways

• Immigration Region 5 has launched a probe into Tak Immigration over the wrongful deportation of a murder suspect.

• Officials say disciplinary and criminal action will be taken if negligence or intent is proven.

• Thai authorities are coordinating with Myanmar to bring the suspect back to face charges.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Matichon 2026-01-04

 

 

....Hmmm...Any Other Possibilities...(?)

This might have happened a "few" times in the UK in recent years...

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

This might have happened a "few" times in the UK in recent years...

Worse than that. They just released them onto the streets

Off topic post removed @AngryMan