Phang Nga politician gunned down in broad daylight

PHUKET: While Phang Nga Immigration officers were busy rounding up the 112 Rohingya refugees who landed at Tai Muang on Saturday, police in the neighboring town of Khok Kloy were responding to a drive-by assassination of a leading local community figure.

Lt Nakhon Tangruamsub of Khok Kloy Police told the Phuket Gazette that he received a report of a man being gunned down near the Na Tai Pub (“Southern Field” Pub) at about 2:15pm.

Officers arrived to find Suthorn Soithong, 42, dead at the scene.

Lt Nakhon explained that Mr Suthorn had only recently been promoted to vice president of the Tai Muang Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor).

“Mr Suthorn was walking back to his car when two men in a bronze Toyota Vigo pickup truck pulled up beside him and opened fire,” said Lt Nakhon.

“Mr Suthorn was hit in the head, chest and body before his attackers sped off. Officers found seven 9mm bullet cases at the scene,” he added.

Lt Nakhon said that police have yet to establish a confirmed motive for the killing.

“All the people we have interviewed so far described Mr Suthorn as a nice guy, friendly. He was a very close friend of the Tai Muang OrBorTor president, so at this time we believe the killing was politically motivated,” Lt Nakhon explained.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong