Police Arrest Wit Koh Yo Village Head in Assassination Conspiracy Case

Police have arrested Pol. Lt. Kovit Ratchaneeya, 62, a village head from Koh Yo, on charges of conspiracy to murder Payom Sangthong (known as Kamnan Yong), a Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO) candidate from Tha Chamwang, Rattaphum District, Songkhla Province. The victim was shot dead on December 19, 2023, which led to a significant community response where local residents collectively decided not to vote for any candidate in protest. On January 31, 2024, police from the Suppression Division, together with Region 9 Police, executed an arrest warrant from Phatthalung Provincial Court. Investigators initially arrested the gunmen and driver after the shooting, and during their investigation, they found that the suspects had visited Kovit's residence in Koh Yo Subdistrict after the murder. Kovit, who was elected as a TAO head and was awaiting official confirmation from the Election Commission, is now in custody pending further investigation.