Thai police have applied to the Criminal Court for an arrest warrant for Mr. Ekkalak Panoy, a former naval officer, in connection with the fatal shooting of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian opposition MP, on January 7. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to apprehend the suspect, who remains at large.
CCTV footage from the crime scene near Bowonniwet Temple in Bangkok shows a man wearing a white shirt, hat, and carrying a bag believed to be involved in the incident. The individual, identified as a Cambodian national, reportedly traveled on a bus from the Khlong Luek border crossing with a group of 20 passengers, including the victim.
The shooting occurred moments after the passengers disembarked in a public park. Police believe the man in the footage acted as a spotter, designating Lim Kimya as the target. Hours after the shooting, the alleged spotter boarded a Sky Angkor Airlines flight to Phnom Penh, leaving Thailand at 9:05 p.m.
Investigators are also focusing on Mr. Ekkalak, who allegedly acted as the gunman. A motorcycle abandoned at a service station in Suan Luang district was recovered, and DNA samples and fingerprints are being analyzed.
Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, stated that authorities are pursuing leads on a possible money trail to identify who hired the gunman. While the spotter has fled the country, police suspect Mr. Ekkalak is still in Thailand and attempting to evade capture.
The case highlights the cross-border complexity of organized crime. Thai authorities are working with Cambodian officials to piece together the motives and connections behind the assassination.
