NAN: Police have shot and killed a 36-year-old man who earlier fled from a local court where he was due to hear judgement on a charge of possessing methamphetamine for sale.
Adirek Chompuros, also known as Yolai, and another suspect were arrested in Nan on Dec 12 in possession of 2,112 speed pills and 50 grammes of crystal methamphetamine.
Adirek escaped from a ground-floor cell of the Nan provincial court on March 8 and fled on a motorcycle stolen at a nearby Buddhist temple. Several police teams were assigned to track him down.
On Monday police saw him driving a red Mazda car with red licence plates registered in Bangkok in Muang district. After a road chase, police stopped him in Soi Ruam Pattana in tambon Tu Tai, where they shot him dead.
Police said the suspect resisted arrest and had a firearm.
Adirek died in the driver's seat. A locally made shotgun was found near his feet.
Pol Lt Col Uthai Wongkhamsaen, deputy superintendent of the Muang Nan police station, earlier said Adirek had connections with many drug networks in Nan, especially in Wiang Sa district.
Someone had helped him escape from the court holding cell. A mobile phone and food had been bought for him and the gun acquired for the suspect in advance.