Karon restaurateur kills next-door rival
KARON: Police are on the lookout for Karon restaurateur Suban Pon-iamsaen after eyewitnesses reported that he calmly walked into the kitchen of the Mala Seafood restaurant, next door to his own restaurant on the beach road, and shot dead the owner, Mala Peng-iam, 52.
Eyewitnesses reported that Suban carried out the execution at point blank range at about 7 pm yesterday.
He then walked calmly back out to his white Toyota sedan and drove away, Lt Col Peeranut Chatinkaew, a Crime Suppression Inspector at Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette.
K. Mala was shot three times in the face and once in the chest with a .38 caliber pistol. Police also found a bullet hole in the kitchen wall from a shot that had missed its mark, Col Peeranut said.
“I know [Mala and Suban] had many heated business arguments. They were actually distant relatives but were always arguing, such as when one wanted to have karaoke in the restaurant but the other said it would be too noisy.
“None of these cases went to court, but local police knew of the disputes and always warned them not to let it get out of hand,” Col Peeranut explained.
“Saban is still at large, but we know what he looks like and have notified all units to be on the lookout for him. He will not be able to leave the island. He will be charged with premeditated murder,” he added.
