Trang man executed on Koh Sireh

KOH SIREH: A man was fatally shot by a single bullet to the mouth as he was riding his motorbike on Koh Sireh early yesterday morning.

Phuket City Police Inspector Lt Col Sarit Butnongsang identified the victim as Reab Paothong, 46, of Kantang district, Trang province.

The murder happened on Theppratan Rd near the Koh Sireh Community Health Office about 2:20 am, Lt Col Sarit said.

The only evidence recovered from the scene was K. Reab’s body, dressed in blue jeans, a white shirt and a blue jacket, and his red Honda Wave motorbike.

Witnesses told police that two men riding behind K. Reab on another motorbike pulled up alongside him.

One of the men called out and when K. Reab turned to look, the man riding pillion fired a single bullet that entered the victim’s mouth, lodging inside his head and killing him instantly, Lt Col Sarit said.

No bullet casings have been recovered and police are still investigating the shooting, he said.

The victim’s body was sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where the bullet will be extracted for police to use as evidence, Lt Col Sarit added.