Phuket police officer held for off-duty killing

PHUKET: A Phuket police officer and his brother are being detained at Phuket Provincial Court tonight after both were charged with accessory to murder over a fatal shooting in Phuket Town’s red-light district early this morning.

Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Jamroon Plaiduang told the Phuket Gazette that the shooting occurred at about 2:30am in Phuket Town’s infamous Phun Phol Soi 11.

Pol Cpl Rachaporn Semaksorn, currently serving at Patong Police Station, and his brother Dechaporn arrived in the narrow street and pulled up on the opposite side of the alley where 21-year-old Ekkasit Sangangam was sitting on his parked motorbike.

Mr Ekkasit walked over to Cpl Rachaporn and Dechaporn and began arguing with the both of them, said Col Jamroon.

Cpl Rachaporn, not in uniform and off-duty at the time, apparently pulled out his gun and shot Mr Ekkasit in the left eye, then sped off on his motorbike.

“Cpl Rachaporn and his brother were arrested minutes later while riding along Wichit Songkram Road,” said Col Jamroon.

Rescue workers from the nearby Kusoldharm Foundation, whose headquarters is only one street away, , rushed Mr Ekkasit to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Cpl Rachaporn and Dechaporn were held here at Phuket City Police Station after their arrest, but they have now been transferred to the holding cells at Phuket Provincial Court,” said Col Jamroon.

Both men have been charged with accessory to murder.

Police have yet to charge Cpl Rachaporn directly with the killing.

Col Jamroon told the Gazette late this afternoon that police had yet to confirm whether or not the shooting was over a woman.

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“There were no women involved in the incident when police arrived at the scene [early yesterday morning]. However, we are still doing our investigation,” he said.

— Atchaa Khamlo