Suspect held in Big C Slaying

PHUKET: Police are confident they have a strong lead in one of the recent spate of killings on Phuket and that breakthroughs in other slayings may follow soon. Col Apirak Hongtong, Deputy Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, told the Gazette that a suspect was being held in Haad Yai, Songkla, over the killing at the entrance of the Big C Supercenter of Visanuwat Ngamjun, shot dead at the wheel of his car by a motorcycle-riding assassin on February 28. Col Apirak declined to name the suspect being held, saying that it was too early in the investigation to do so. Police believe that two other recent crimes may possibly be connected: the murders of Prasert and Thavorn Trairat, parents of Thepkrassatri Mayor Prasong Trairat, by gunmen at their shophouse home on May 5, and the Freeway Restaurant killings on Bang Tao Beach, which they believe arose from a land dispute. A murder warrant has been issued for a man named Suwat Kaewkong over the fatal shooting of Freeway restaurant owner Suwim Noodang and his nephew Pramote Choochat at the restaurant on May 17. Further forensic tests and leads are being followed in these and other cases, Col Apirak said, adding that he was also hopeful of developments in the investigation of the assassination of newspaper and TV reporter Surapong “Ord Patong” Rittee, who was killed with a bullet to the head while shopping in a convenience store in Patong in the early hours of February 11. “We have checked the weapons that were used in many cases in Phuket and believe that they were brought in from other provinces,” he added. He said he expected to make announcements soon of progress in several cases.