RAYONG: A hired gunman arrested in Muang district for murder and attempted murder in two southern provinces told police he took the jobs because he was in dire need of money to help his son, who had oral cancer.
Sunthorn Mongkhonpaet, 42, alias “O Phetchaburi’’, was arrested at a house in tambon Noen Phra of Rayong's Muang district on Thursday.
The suspect is a gunman for hire and wanted on arrest warrants issued by the Chumphon and Ranong provincial courts for attempted murder and murder, according to Crime Suppression Division police.
In the first case, he was hired by a man identified only as Ae and paid 70,000 baht to kill a landlord known only as Phong in Lang Suan district, Chumphon. On Oct 26, 2013, he shot Mr Phong, but the victim survived.
In the second case, he was hired by an angry wife, Piangnak Khongruang, for 100,000 baht to gun down Penprapa Boontha, who was romantically involved with her husband. He allegedly killed her on Nov 10, 2014, in Ranong. After the murder, Ms Piangnak and others involved in the plot were caught. Only Mr Sunthorn, the alleged gunman, avoided arrest.
Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj Gen Maitree Chimcherd said they received information the suspect was hiding in Rayong, and he sent police to arrest him.
Mr Sunthorn had admitted to the charges, and told police that he became a hired gunman because he needed money to cover the medical expenses of his son, who had mouth cancer and needed urgent surgery. He also needed money to pay off cock fighting bets he had lost.
Pol Maj Gen Maitree said the suspect had a criminal record. He had been convicted of drug charges and jailed for 2 years and 6 months in 1996. After being released from jail, he started hiring himself out as a gunman.
The suspect would be handed over to local police in Chumphon for legal action, he said.
The alleged hired gunman, "O Phetchaburi'', is caught at a house in Rayong after fleeing arrest for murder and attempted murder in Ranong and Chumphon provinces. (Photo by Crime Suppression Division police)