Gunman Confesses to Killing Local Politician Yong During Reconstruction of Crime Scenes

On February 2, 2024, police led by Major General Vara Wetchaphinan and Colonel Sakda Charoenkul arrested Thanpisit, 48, the primary suspect in the murder of Payom Sangtong (nicknamed Yong), a local subdistrict administrative organization (SAO) election candidate who was killed on December 19, 2023. The suspect was charged with premeditated murder and illegal weapons possession. During the crime scene reconstruction, Thanpisit detailed the nine locations involved in the murder plot, including meeting points, route changes, and the actual shooting location. He claimed he did not initially know his target and only decided to proceed with the murder after seeing Yong's campaign posters. The suspect expressed remorse, stating he felt compelled to complete the job after accepting the contract, describing himself as a 'tough guy' who honors his commitments.