The leader of a motorcycle-taxi group involved in a fatal brawl between two queues in Bangkok’s Bang Na district turned himself in to police on Thursday to face charges, including collusion in murder.
He was the last suspect wanted on arrest warrants. Six were earlier caught.
Pramuk Wichiandilokkul, leader of the Udomsuk 1 motorcycle-taxi queue, accompanied by his lawer, surrendered himself to Bang Na police on Thursday to acknowledge the charges of collusion in murder, illegal possession of weapons, carrying and using arms in public areas and illegal assembly.
He and six other men were wanted on the arrest warrants approved on Sunday by the Phra Khanong Provincial Court for their involvement in the violent brawl. The six other suspects were earlier in custody.
They were involved in the fatal brawl on Saturday in which Weerawat Phuengkhut, 20, a Kerry Express delivery man, was shot dead by a stray bullet in front of his house and three other were injured.
Wanchai Mongkolkhem, who was among the arrested suspects, admitted to having fired shots on that day. He was taken for questioning on Thursday.
Bang Na police said the fighting erupted after one group of riders providing the taxi service at the entrance of Sukhumvit Soi 103/1-2 or Soi Udomsuk were upset with another group stationed in front of a Siam Commercial Bank branch nearby, whom they claimed had stolen their customers.
Meanwhile, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered a probe into alleged bribe-taking from illegal motorcycle-taxi queues in Bangkok.
Two motorcycle-taxi drivers involved in a fatal brawl in Bangkok's Bang Na district on Saturday are taken to court for detention. They are among seven suspects wanted on arrest warrants. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Pol Gen Chakthip said on Thursday that the violent clash on Soi Udomsuk stemmed from a personal conflict that escalated into violence and those involved were caught.
After the incident, Pol Lt Col Anurak Imla-ied, deputy chief of traffic police attached to Bang Na police station, was transferred to the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s division 5 for failing to regulate motorcycle-taxi queues in the area, said Pol Lt Gen Sutthipong Wongpin, chief of the MPB.