PHUKET: A man wanted for the fatal shooting of an army officer he found with his wife in their home in Sa Kaeo has been arrested in this southern island province.
Uthen Jitman, 62, was apprehended at a hotel in Muang district on Monday, Pol Maj Gen Thatchai Pitaneelabut, deputy chief of the Provincial Police Region 1, told a news conference on Tuesday.
The suspect was wanted on a warrant issued by Sa Kaeo Provincial Court on Oct 26 for the murder of Lt Samuenchai Phuetphian, of the Burapa task force, in Sa Kaeo.
Lt Samuenchai, 56, was shot inside Mr Uthen's home, which also served as the Salee Miang Pla Pao food shop, in Sa Kaeo’s Watthana Nakhon district around 11pm on Oct 25. He died in hospital shortly after.
Mr Uthen fled after the shooting.
Under interrogation, the suspect told police he and his wife opened the food shop two years ago and then he went to work elsewhere, returning home whenever he could.
When he came home on Monday night there was a car parked in front of his house. He walked inside and found Lt Samuenchai was there.
He knew the officer had earlier been romantically involved with his wife. Seeing him there in his house made him jealous and angry. He pulled out his pistol and fired four shots at the man, according to police.
He fled in his pickup truck, which he later abandoned and boarded a bus to Phuket.
Mr Uthen was charged with premeditated murder, illegal possession of and carrying a firearm in public.