Ex-cop sought for Patong murder

PATONG: Kathu police have issued an arrest warrant for an ex-policeman, L/Cpl Anan Hincheeranan, formerly of the Special Branch of the Royal Thai Police and latterly a security guard at Soi Bangla’s Crazy Bar, for the murder of Metha Thongkaew, his counterpart at the Snack Bar on Soi Tiger. Both bars are foreign-owned.

K. Metha, 28, from Haad Yai, was shot four times in the early hours of Sunday and died on the way to hospital. Col Supreecha said witnesses had seen K. Metha and Anan arguing two days earlier, and had overheard Anan threatening to kill K. Metha.

Pol Lt Col Supreecha Onsod, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, said that Anan may be hiding out in Bangkok.

Although Anan is currently eluding capture, Kathu police have arrested Praporm Chonlatarn, 46, and Kampol Pairoj, 39, in Patong. Both men were accused of being accomplices in K. Metha’s murder and of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Police found a bloodstained cloth in their possession. They also seized a Honda Wave motorcycle believed to have been used as a getaway vehicle.