Catch of the day

RASSADA: Phuket City Police yesterday morning took into custody a fugitive murder suspect from Trang as he was unloading fish at the pier on Koh Sireh.

Phuket City Police Investigator Capt Jessada Janpum identified the fugitive as 25-year-old Jirasak Chamnankiat, who was a resident of tambon Natoming in Trang’s Muang District until he went on the run three months ago.

In making the arrest, police were acting on arrest warrant #403/2551 issued by the Trang Provincial Court on May 23 this year.

Jirasak was wanted for the May 13 shooting murder of Soonthorn “Mee” Chuvet at the entrance to the Houyriang housing estate in Tambon Natoming, Muang District, Trang on May 13, 2008.

The arrest came at 10 am yesterday morning, when a team of officers who had been in hiding at the fish pier moved in quickly and placed the suspect under arrest as he was unloading his catch.

Police had received a report that the suspect would return to port aboard the fishing boat Choke Maneedech that morning.

The suspect did not attempt to struggle or flee, Capt Jessada said.

The suspect was taken for questioning at Phuket City Police Station, where he denied any involvement in the murder.

He was subsequently turned over to Pol Lt Somnuk Kamkaew of the Nongtrud District Police investigation unit and is now being held in a cell at Trang Provincial Court, he said.