Big hunt for gunman who killed a policeman for refusing a transfer

POLICE are hunting for a gunman who shot dead a policeman and injured another after the former refused a village headman’s request to accept the transfer of a colleague during a dinner party at his house in Nakhon Pathom province last night (Sep. 6), Matichon newspaper said this morning.

At 10 p.m. Pol. Lt. Col. Boonliang Wansamngarm, a deputy inspector at Mueang Nakhon Pathom police station, was alerted of a man being shot dead and another injured at a house in Ta Kong sub-district, Mueang district.

Upon getting there the police team found that the unidentified village headman had arranged a Chinese dinner party at his house and invited some highway patrol officers to join him and his friends to get to know each other better.

Found dead on the spot after being shot seven times was Pol. Maj. Siwakorn Saibua and shot in the left arm was Pol. Lt. Col. Wasin Panpee with both being from Highway Police Second Sub-division. The latter was rushed to the hospital where he underwent a surgery to remove the bullet.

Police said during the party the village headman had asked the deceased policeman to accept the transfer of another policeman who is close to him and belonged to the same division.

However Pol. Maj. Siwakorn, being a straightforward man, replied that everything must be according to the regulations. This led to a fierce argument between the two of them and after a while the village headman got up and left.

Soon after that the gunman, later identified as Mr. Thananchai Manmak, or Nong, 45, came in and fired rapidly at Pol. Maj. Siwakorn with this triggering chaos during which the gunman quickly fled.

The village headman too disappeared after the shooting.

At 8.30 a.m. this morning Pol. Maj. Gen. Montri Thetkhan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said he had sent a team to this province since last night. They are now surrounding all suspicious places in this and nearby provinces where the gunman and the village headman could be hiding.

If the village headman is found to be involved in the murder of the policeman he too will face legal action, he said, adding that he will be personally going there to follow up on the investigation this afternoon.

CAPTIONS:

Top: An image of the wanted gunman inset on a photo of the party where the shooting took place last night.

First below: An image of Pol. Maj. Siwakorn Saibua inset on a scene from last night’s party.

Second below: The village headman’s house where the party was held.

Front Page: Pol. Maj. Siwakorn Saibua. All photos: Matichon