The alleged gunman and an accomplice have been arrested and charged over the murder of a prominent lawyer in Rayong on Aug 15.
Police from the Provincial Police Region 2 and the Crime Suppression Division arrested Piti Nitcharat, 54 and Nitiphon Chamchuen, 57, on Tuesday.
They were named in arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court on charges of colluding in murder, illegal possession of firearms and carrying and shooting them in a public area.
Mr Piti is the alleged gunman. He was arrested at a petrol station in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Tuesday. Mr Nitiphon was apprehended in Phrae province.
The two suspects were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Manop Sathiankhet at a petrol station in Ban Khai district of Rayong province on the night of Aug 15. The slain lawyer was a former election candidate for the since-dissolved Thai Raksa Chart Party in Rayong’s constituency 3. He was also a hopeful candidate for the Pheu Thai Party.
On Wednesday, CSD police accompanied Mr Piti’s wife to her house in Lak Song area of Bangkok to search for evidence in the case. Mr Piti was being taken to Rayong province for a crime re-enactment in the afternoon. He allegedly confessed to the charges during questioning.
Mr Nitiphon denied any involvement in the murder and refused to give a statement to police.
Investigators said they had confidence in the evidence against both suspects. They would both be taken to the Criminal Court on Thursday, where police would apply to detain them in custody for a further 12 days whlle they compiled their case report for the prosecution.
Piti Nitcharat, 54, is arrested in Phrae on Tuesday night. He denied any involvement in the murder in Rayong. (Photo supplied / Wassayos Ngamkham)
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Alleged gunman Piti Nitcharat, 54, wanted for the murder of a prominent lawyer in Rayong province, after his arrest in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Tuesday.(Photo supplied / Wassayos Ngamkham)
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