Police colonel linked to killing of editor
PHUKET: A police lieutenant-colonel has been arrested in connection with the murder of local newspaper editor Opas Noothong in April this year.
The arrest came after a gun belonging to Pol Lt Col Hattakarn Klinlokai, Inspector for Crime Suppression at Tambon Suksamran police station in Ranong, was found in the car of another suspect, Veenakorn Boonyiun.
Forensic tests later confirmed that Col Hattakarn’s .357 Smith & Wesson revolver was the gun used to shoot K. Opas.
Col Hattakarn has been charged with conspiracy to murder but has denied any involvement in the case. He refused to give any explanation of how his gun came to be used in the shooting, saying that he will make a statement only when he appears in court.
The officer in charge of the case, Pol Maj Rassada Kluengwong, Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that Col Hattakarn had now been transferred to hospital in Bangkok to receive treatment for a bone disease but that he would return shortly to face the charge in court.
Police believe K. Opas was shot to prevent him revealing details of an earlier crime, the attempted murder of Peerasak “Ko Yu” Aiewpanich, Veenakorn’s ex-husband, who was shot in October of last year. K. Aiewpanich was left paralyzed by the attack.
