The suspected gunman in last week’s Pattaya luxury mansion shooting remains in custody while 6 others believed to be living there have had their visas revoked. Region 2 Police officers confirm that the suspect, who opened fire on two police officers while they were attempting to serve a search warrant at the mansion, is being held in the Nong Plalai Prison at Banglamung, while a half-dozen residence or associates of the luxury house also remain in custody before facing deportation.
4 Chinese nationals and 2 Burmese nationals identified as living in the luxury home have now had their visas cancelled though the exact legal reason for the cancellation was not immediately given by the Region 2 Police or other law enforcement officials. they will be deported back to their home countries eventually, but are still currently being held as police continue their investigation into the shooting incident.
Zhang Yang is the primary suspect and often goes by the nickname Leo. He is 35 years old and entered Thailand with a passport from Saint Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean country that is known for granting citizenship to big-money investors.
He’s accused of shooting at police from the upper level of the mansion while they were knocking on his front door attempting to serve a warrant. Police were reportedly suspicious that the very expensive home and luxury cars parked outside were the spoils of a Chinese Mafia gang and had gone to investigate.
The shooting took place around 5 pm on May 19 at the luxury mansion in Huay Yai when 2 police officers were seriously injured in the gunfire. One officer was shot three times and still remains in critical condition after two surgeries. He’s reported to be in a coma at the hospital in Chon Buri.
The entire situation still under investigation, with the police already bringing the alleged shooter back to the mansion for a reenactment, common in Thai police investigations, and the Anti Money Laundering Office inspecting the mansion on Friday. Transnational crime units from Bangkok are also said to be taking part in the investigation.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Good story update and I’m glad “Leo” will go down hard and his friends will get kicked out of the country very soon.
But why the Burmese nationals? according to earlier reports, they are just maids. I may be wrong but I really doubt they had anything to do with the gang’s operation or that they were even aware of what was going on.
Now, they face deportation to Myanmar just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Poor ladies.
I think the police should take a close look at that gardener. He knows more than he is letting on.
He was not a gardener – he was a look out!
He might even be the boss!!
Slap the cuffs on him.
It’s very interesting how anyone here already seems to know the truth.
Sure, obviously the origin of their money was not from selling Som-Tum.
Sure, maybe they were involved in some criminal activities.
But since when a countries police can harass people just because they have a lot of money?
Does the following scenario seems so unlikely for you:
The local police saw that these people had a lot of money.
That’s why they come from time to time, knocking on the door and asking for a piece of the pie. For some tea money. Not unusual in Thailand, not at all.
But maybe they wanted more and more, because Police saw the Chinese really had a loooot of money.
And maybe the Chinese didn’t wanted to share anymore?
Not saying it’s like that, but could be.
From my short time in Thailand I learned already, that most of the time the Police is the biggest criminal.
@toby Andrew’s, you’ve just shown how stupid you are , why should they cuff a gardner? Do you know him ? Have you met him before?
If the gardener was a yellow idiot like you , would you also say same thing or you complain about the bibs ?
Mostly what I’ve seen over the years in Thailand on English social media is that an American or European would bash anyone that doesn’t look like them but when someone like them commits heinous crime they blame mental health , blame Thais, blame police , look at us of assholes for example, a white orangutan kills 10 innocent ppl , they blame mental health. All conspiracy theorists blah blah , lying is part of a yellow orangutan, change history ,lie about history.
he is a thai gardener so he is ok.
@Ross – I know. That is his cover. I am only the gardener – cunning devil.
Leo is likely not the boss but a crazy stone cold henchman who doesn’t asks before shooting. I suppose not much assistance is expected from the St.Kitts & Nevis consulate for one of their citizens.
@Maestro – Leo will be executed in China and I am sure the chinese police are now alerted. Sad for the chinese criminals, they face execution and will use all violent means to protect themselves – they have nothing to lose but their lifes.
The Gardener IS Always the suspect..! This WE read in Many crime novels?
@Toby Andrews – Well said, Hercule.
@Toby Andrews – and his wife is Lady Chatterly.