12-12-2024 (BANGKOK) Seven individuals were arrested following a deadly confrontation at a prominent politician’s residence that left a provincial council member dead.
The incident unfolded Wednesday evening at the home of former deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Wilawan, where her father, Sunthorn Wilawan, president of the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), was taken into custody for questioning regarding the fatal shooting.
According to police reports, the victim, Chaimet Sitsanitpong, a member of the Prachin Buri provincial council and Sunthorn’s adopted son, arrived at the residence around 7:30 pm for discussions about the PAO presidency succession. The meeting, which took place on Wat Roman Utis Road in Prachin Buri’s Muang district, descended into violence when a heated argument erupted.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots at approximately 9:15 pm. Law enforcement swiftly apprehended several suspects, including Thanasarankorn Techathanatchote and Saksit Chinnawong. Officers recovered two weapons from the scene: a 9mm pistol and a shotgun.
Acting commander of the Region 2 Provincial Police, Police Lieutenant-General Yingyos Thepjamnong, personally overseeing the investigation under direct orders from national police chief Police General Kitrat Phanphet, pledged a thorough and impartial inquiry regardless of the suspects’ status.
The case has drawn significant attention given Sunthorn’s political profile. The former deputy Public Health Minister, who served from 1996 to 1997 and represented Prachin Buri as MP eight times, had recently announced his retirement. Adding to the controversy, Sunthorn was already under scrutiny in an ongoing Department of Special Investigation probe regarding alleged encroachment at Khao Yai National Park, where he was named as one of twelve suspects earlier this year.
