Komkai’s killer apprehended, but mastermind still at-large

PHUKET: After almost six months of investigation, police have arrested a hired gunman who confessed to the shooting murder of well-known Patong businesswoman Komkai Kositkoon on July 18.

After his arrest at a construction site in Krabi on Saturday morning, 39-year-old Arun Chanma was brought in for a re-enactment of the crime, which took place on Wichit Songkraam Rd.

He confessed to working with two other men to shoot Mrs Komkai and her husband in return for 1 million baht.

Admitting he was the gunman, Mr Arun said he did not know who the mastermind was, but that the trio were deceived and were only paid 150,000 baht each.

The other two gang members are still at large.

In late August, Phuket Provincial Police Commissioner Apirak Hongtong described the investigation as “problematic” because Mrs Komkai was involved in at least 10 lawsuits that could be considered as possible motives for her murder.

Her assassination was most likely ordered and paid for by an “influential figure”, he said.

Source: NBT