One Dead, Two Injured In Phuket Shootout With Police

[webfact]

One dead, two injured in Phuket shootout with police

Rescue workers rush Somkid ‘Fat’ Kongtin, 21, from the scene

of the shootout in Kata to Patong Hospital. Photo: Yodsak Jarana

A trail of blood leads from the motorbike to the hotel construction

site where the gunfight took place. Photo: Yodsak Jarana

PHUKET: -- Two men reportedly known to police as thugs who impersonated police officers to extort money from Burmese workers were gunned down in a street shootout in Phuket’s tourist area of Kata Beach today.

One police officer was shot in each leg before returning fire.

Duty Officer Lt Col Boonlert Onklang said Chalong Police first received a report of the gunfight at 3:30pm.

Police on patrol in Rawai spotted Somkid “Fat” Kongtin, 21, and Adisorn “Thin” Thongyon, 18, riding a white-and-yellow Yamaha Fino at the main intersection in Saiyuan, Lt Col Boonlert explained.

Although both were registered as residents of Cherng Talay, the pair were wanted as suspects for motorcycle theft, he said.

They were also wanted for impersonating police officers and extorting money from Burmese workers at a camp near Nai Harn Lake, he said.

It was reports of their physical description from these incidents that earned them their nickname “Fat and Thin" (the Thai equivalent to ‘Fatty and Skinny’), he added.

Ignoring the officers’ order to stop, the duo sped off toward Kata, leaving the officers little choice but to radio ahead for fellow police officers in the Kata-Karon area to keep an eye out for them.

Sgt Maj Hattaporn Thongkhaobua of Chalong Police was next to spot the pair, ordering Adisorn to stop the motorbike near the Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort and Spa on Khet Kwan Road.

The pair replied by opening fire on Maj Hattaporn, shooting him in the legs.

Maj Hattaporn returned fire, hitting Somkid in the back.

Adisorn then turned the motorbike into Soi Kerdsub, where the pair abandoned it and ran into a hotel under construction.

Trapped, the pair had no choice but to start a shootout with police, who quickly arrived in support.

The gunfight lasted about five minutes, said Lt Col Boonlert.

After the smoke had cleared, Adisorn was lying dead in the doorway with a .38 revolver on the ground near an outstretched hand.

He also had a knife sheathed on his waist, several amulets and about 35 bullets in a black backpack.

Police also found about seven strips of tiger skin each measuring about three-inches long between the motorbike and where Adisorn lay.

Inside, Mr Somkid was seriously wounded. He had been shot several times in the leg, chest and stomach.

Phuket Ruamjai rescue foundation workers at the scene rushed him Patong Hospital, Lt Col Boonlert said.

“Fat and Thin were wanted criminals and well known among other gangsters. They always impersonated police officers and went to many alien worker camps all over Phuket and demanded money,” he said.

Lt Col Boonlert added that Mr Somkid had been charged with resisting arrest, illegal possession of a firearm and impersonating a police officer.

He did not elaborate on whether any further charges will be filed against Mr Somkid.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-06-13

[BigBikeBKK]

Good riddance- one can only hope this is only the beginning of an open season on Phuket's street thugs.

[LivinginKata]

The policeman is lucky to be alive. From other reports seems that at least 4 shots were fired at him, and they had plenty of spare bullets. Pity the 2nd gunman survived, lets hope he rots in jail.

[katabeachbum]

The policeman is lucky to be alive. From other reports seems that at least 4 shots were fired at him, and they had plenty of spare bullets. Pity the 2nd gunman survived, lets hope he rots in jail.

must have been plenty of witnesses as they didnt finish him

In jail he will be a hero, but probably they can hold him in Chalong for a few days first

[dancep]

the good news for them is they can probably get their money back on the amulets...

[khaowong1]

the good news for them is they can probably get their money back on the amulets...

Ha Ha Ha.. No, you don't buy amulets, you rent them.. and I doubt whether there's a money back guarantee. If the man wearing them happens to mention the monks name he got them blessed from, the poor monk will have to move to somewhere else.

[tingtongfarang]

They always impersonated police officers and went to many alien worker camps all over Phuket and demanded money,” he said.

That implies that the real gangsters-police do the same thing

[katabeachbum]

Just realised I have known the injured officer for years. They have succesfully removed bullets from his leg.

Wishing officer Husthaporn a swift recovery, my thoughts are with you, your wife, and daughter.:jap:

Hoping to see you back on your CBR soon :jap:

[madmitch]

Also they have changed the wording on the Gazette's main page. It no longer states that they "had no choice" but to start a gun battle. Now worded a bit better!

It's quite unusal for the police to get any praise on TV so credit where credit's due, even to the Swedish volunteer, if it is him!

Edited June 13, 2011 by LivinginKata
libelous remark removed

[BigJohnnyBKK]

They always impersonated police officers and went to many alien worker camps all over Phuket and demanded money," he said.

That implies that the real gangsters-police do the same thing

Note to self - if you're going to scam, don't compete against powerful organisations with lot of guns.

[grumpyoldman]

I thought it a bit curious that at about 3:00pm or around there any way I saw (going from Chalong circle toward Rawai/Sai Yuan) there were cops all stationed about.

Two sets of two once past the circle, one stationed right at Sai Yuan. Thought maybe there were dignataries about, quite the opposite.......

[katabeachbum]

Also they have changed the wording on the Gazette's main page. It no longer states that they "had no choice" but to start a gun battle. Now worded a bit better!

It's quite unusal for the police to get any praise on TV so credit where credit's due, even to the Swedish volunteer, if it is him!

Officer Husthaporn is indeed Thai, and lives in Chalong Police station with his wife and daughter. They are expecting another baby. He is an always smiling very gentle man, speaks ok English, has been working Kata for years and is liked in the community.

Ran into him once when a farang had crashed into 3 parked bikes. Farang looked like never tried to ride a scoot before, had just rented one. Husthaporn spendt 10 minutes teaching him to keep balance and brake. Sendt him off with a smile

[madmitch]

Also they have changed the wording on the Gazette's main page. It no longer states that they "had no choice" but to start a gun battle. Now worded a bit better!

It's quite unusal for the police to get any praise on TV so credit where credit's due, even to the Swedish volunteer, if it is him!

Officer Husthaporn is indeed Thai, and lives in Chalong Police station with his wife and daughter. They are expecting another baby. He is an always smiling very gentle man, speaks ok English, has been working Kata for years and is liked in the community.

Ran into him once when a farang had crashed into 3 parked bikes. Farang looked like never tried to ride a scoot before, had just rented one. Husthaporn spendt 10 minutes teaching him to keep balance and brake. Sendt him off with a smile

I was actually referring to the Rescue Volunteer in the top picture, though my comment was edited (correctly so) hence lost its sense.

I probably have come across the policeman in question if he does the Kata patrol route.

[easton]

Pity the 2nd gunman survived, lets hope he rots in jail.

Agreed

[trisailer]

They always impersonated police officers and went to many alien worker camps all over Phuket and demanded money," he said.

That implies that the real gangsters-police do the same thing

Your the one who has implied that police do the same thing and it is insulting. If you have a personal experence with the police why don't you share it instead of showing your stupidity making blanket statments.

I wonder where are the moderators who allow these endless insults to Thailand and the Thai people?

[katabeachbum]

They always impersonated police officers and went to many alien worker camps all over Phuket and demanded money," he said.

That implies that the real gangsters-police do the same thing

Your the one who has implied that police do the same thing and it is insulting. If you have a personal experence with the police why don't you share it instead of showing your stupidity making blanket statments.

I wonder where are the moderators who allow these endless insults to Thailand and the Thai people?

I assume "the real gangster-police' has nothing to do with The Royal Thai Police, but are simply criminals to be found in every country, and thus no insult to Thailand or Thai people

[trisailer]

OK then if we are concluding that there are bad cops "gangsters" in every country than I'm happy with that true assessment.

In fact I just read about one in NY who was shaking down drug dealers to pay the morgage on his house. The abuse of power by police is a problem everywhere.

[MegaRanter]

OK then if we are concluding that there are bad cops "gangsters" in every country than I'm happy with that true assessment.

In fact I just read about one in NY who was shaking down drug dealers to pay the morgage on his house. The abuse of power by police is a problem everywhere.

Hope you feel better now.

[andrew55]

OK then if we are concluding that there are bad cops "gangsters" in every country than I'm happy with that true assessment.

In fact I just read about one in NY who was shaking down drug dealers to pay the morgage on his house. The abuse of power by police is a problem everywhere.

Sensible retraction. Welcome to LOS.

ps - Nothing for a moderator to moderate here IMHO.

Reason for edit - ps.

[LivinginKata]

Phuket street shootout gunman dies from injuries

PHUKET: The second of two men involved in a shootout with Phuket police in Kata-Karon on Sunday has died in hospital.

Chalong Police duty officer Boonlert Onklang told the Phuket Gazette today that 21-year-old Somkid Kongtin died at Vachira Hospital Phuket at 7:20pm yesterday.

Mr Somkid suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the shootout, but the two most serious wounds were one to the chest and another to the back of the skull, he said.

His partner, 18-year-old Adisorn Thongyon, was killed at the scene.

Reliable sources in Cherng Talay, where the pair lived, told the Gazette the pair dressed up as police officers to extort money from unregistered Burmese and ethnic Nepali laborers.

Somkid and Adisorn were well known to police, who nicknamed them “Fat" and "Skinny”, based on their disparate appearances.

About a year ago, Adisorn was caught with illegal possession of a handgun.

Somkid had been under watch by the police since April 2009 when he was among the leaders of a street blockade protesting police inaction following the shooting death of 12-year-old Amornthep “Gaga” Panya-sirikul.

Gaga was in an Internet cafe when the owner, playing with his new gun, accidentally fired a bullet into his skull.

Police also received many reports of the pair stealing motorbikes, typically in areas outside Cherng Thalay, including Phuket Town and Kamala.

The pair had narrowly escaped capture in Cherng Talay a few years ago when they managed to flee on foot from officers, the source said.

Sgt Maj Hatthaporn Thongkhaobua of the Chalong Police, who was shot three times in the legs in Sunday's incident, is reportedly out of danger and recovering in hospital.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-06-15