Killer of volunteer cop still at large

PHUKET CITY: A volunteer police officer was shot in the forehead and died in a pool of blood in Phuket City in the early hours of January 11. His alleged killer remains at large.

Police believe Teeradet “Boy” Rakwong, 28, was killed by suspect Piyawat “Bang Hem” Pleeta, a member of a rival group, following a fight over a woman.

Phuket City Police Inspector Pitakpon Sompong told the Gazette that Mr Teeradet and his group of friends bumped into the rival group at Saphan Hin. A fight soon broke out, allegedly because the girlfriend of a member of Mr Teeradet’s group had formerly been in a relationship with one of the other group.

The groups dispersed on motorbikes at around 3 am, but as Mr Teeradet reached the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority substation on Thepkrasattri Rd he was shot in the forehead by Piyawat, who was on the back of a motorcycle, Pol Maj Pitakpon said.

Piyawat and the driver of his bike, Pattana Poesri, fled following the incident.

Pattana is now in police custody but Piyawat remains at large, Pol Maj Pitakpon told the Gazette yesterday.