15-Year-Old Murder-for-Hire Case Closed as Last Gunman Arrested
Police arrested the final fugitive in a 15-year-old murder-for-hire case in Nakhon Si Thammarat on May 11, closing investigation into a 2010 killing in Trang province that the victim's wife had orchestrated.
On May 11, 2025, Deputy Police General Pattanasak Bubphasuwon ordered a raid that resulted in the arrest of Arun, alias "Lam Nayong," age 42, at an unnamed rental house in Chiao Khao subdistrict, Chaloem Phrakiat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was wanted under arrest warrants from Trang Provincial Court dated February 25, 2011, for charges including attempted murder, premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying firearms in public without authorization.
The original incident began on November 21, 2010, at approximately 10 p.m., when the victim, Mr. E, age 42, was riding a motorcycle near a hospital in Yan Ta Khao district, Trang province. Two assailants fired at him with a handgun but missed. On December 13, 2010, at approximately 10:30 a.m., four gunmen in a white Isuzu pickup truck ambushed and shot him dead with M16 rifles on a road in Yan Ta Khao district. The victim was found slumped over his Honda Dream motorcycle, struck by two gunshot rounds.
Investigation revealed the victim's wife had hired the assassins. The first failed attempt involved four perpetrators: Jarun (organizer), Aphichat (planner), Therdsakdi (gunman), and Arun (motorcycle driver). The fatal second attempt also involved four men: Jarun (firing a .357 pistol), Aphichat (planner), Somjai (driver), and Arun (firing an M16 from the truck bed).
Police have apprehended most suspects. Jarun and Somjai received death sentences, while others received life sentences. Only Arun had evaded capture for over 15 years, hiding across multiple provinces including Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Phanom, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Criminal Investigation Division Region 5 finally tracked him down to Chaloem Phrakiat district in Nakhon Si Thammarat and arrested him.
During interrogation, Arun denied all charges. He has been remanded to investigators at Yan Ta Khao Police Station in Trang for further legal proceedings.
