Snooker Bet Leads To Fatal Shooting.......................

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: September 1st 2007

MAN FATALLY SHOOTS FRIEND AFTER LOSING SNOOKER BET

After losing a snooker bet, two friends got into an altercation. The younger man left and returned with a gun, shooting his friend to death.

On I September 2007, at 1:30 AM, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chalermgiat Sirimaak, a Pattaya Investigator at Dongtan Station, was notified about a shooting at a snooker shop on Soi 6, Wat Boon Ganjanaram. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chalermgiat Sirimaak and Police Colonel Suthin Sabphueng, Superintendent, along with a police team, rushed to the snooker place, but found the place empty when they arrived.

They found a blood stained motorbike lying on the floor and a bullet casing from a shotgun near the motorbike. Police were informed that the owner of the motorbike had been shot, seriously wounded and transferred to Banglamung Hospital.

The shooting victim, Mr. Santi Sathiya, nickname William (34), was a deck chair operator on Jomtien Beach. He was shot from behind. The bullet went from his left shoulder, through the left side of his chest. He was transferred to Chonburi Hospital for an emergency operation, but lost a large quantity of blood and did not survive.

Police interviewed Mr. Mr. Cheewa Ruad-raew, (24), a speedboat operator and a friend of Mr. Santi, the deceased. Mr. Cheewa was a witness and had taken Mr. Santi to the hospital.

On the night of the shooting, Mr. Nad (25), who is also a deckchair operator, opposite Welcome Jomtien Hotel, came by to join in the drinking and snooker playing. Mr. Nad challenged Mr. Santi to a wager on a snooker game. Mr. Cheewa also joined in the wager.

Mr. Nad started verbally abusing Mr. Santi over the game. Mr. Santi became annoyed and the two got into a heated argument, coming close to physical fighting. Mr. Cheewa tried to break up the altercation, but the other two men didn't listen and decided to take their fight outside. As Mr. Nad, realized that he was much smaller than Mr. Santi, he told Mr. Santi, just you wait.・He rode off on his motorbike.

Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Nad returned with a shotgun. Mr. Santi attempted to leave on his motorbike, but Mr. Nad suddenly shot him in the back in front of witnesses, and rode away. Mr. Cheewa took Mr. Santi to the hospital, but he didn't survive.

Police Colonel Suthin Sabphueng, Superintendent, instructed the police team to search for Mr. Nad and the gun at his residence on Soi Wat Boon, but could not find him. They did spot his motorbike, which he had left with his cousin. Police theorized that he was hiding somewhere upcountry with friends or relatives. Police will mount a manhunt to find and arrest Mr. Nad as quickly as possible.