Father murdered in Chalong

CHALONG: Four men were arrested this morning after gunning down 44-year-old construction contractor Phichai Wanlayapetch in broad daylight after he dropped his young child off at a day care center in Chalong.

The men arrested are Sangkom “Kom” Anukul, 46, Watcharin “Kai” Janya, 35, and Somkanay “Lek” Sriphan, 36, all from Surat Thani; and Suchart “Neung” or “Bao” Sornsang, 33, from Nakhorn Sri Thammarat.

Chalong Police Station Duty Inspector Lt Col Chokchai Sutthimak told the Gazette that Sangkom, Watcharin and Suchart pulled up in a bronze-colored Mitsubishi sedan as Pichai walked to his car from the day care center at 7:40 am.

“They pulled up behind Pichai to identify him as he walked to his car, which was parked in front of GT Construction materials shop, about 40 meters from where he was shot,” he said.

They shot Pichai three times with a .357 handgun, hitting him with “through-and-out” wounds in the neck and right hip, and scratching his left waist. “Phichai fell and died at the scene,” Col Chokchai said.

“The attackers then drove off. Suchart later got in a gold/bronze-colored Mazda pickup, which Somkanay was driving,” he added.

“Chalong Police then co-ordinated with other Phuket police officers, and finally caught all of them within three hours. Sangkom and Watcharin were caught in the Mitsubishi sedan at 8 am at the intersection of Kwang Rd and Chao Fa West Rd.

“Suchart in the Mazda pickup was caught at 9:40 am at the Shell petrol station in Mai Khao,” he said

“During questioning Suchart told police that Somkanay had got out of the car and escaped on foot. Police finally caught Somkanay in Chalong at 10:30 am.

“At Chalong Police Station, the men confessed to conspiracy to murder, being in possession of an unlicensed fireman, and carrying a firearm in a public area without a permit,” Col Chokchai added.