15-1-2025 (BANGKOK) Thai authorities have escalated their investigation into the assassination of former Cambodian MP Lim Kimya with the issuance of arrest warrants for two key suspects, marking a significant development in the cross-border murder case.
The Criminal Court in Bangkok on Tuesday approved arrest warrants for Ly Ratanakraksmey, 43, believed to be the mastermind behind the killing, and Pich Kimsaren, who allegedly acted as a spotter in the carefully orchestrated assassination.
Ratanakraksmey, who also goes by the Thai name Somwang Bamroongkit, faces serious charges including commissioning premeditated murder, arranging the illegal possession of firearms in public areas, and orchestrating the unlawful discharge of weapons in public spaces.
The former MP was gunned down on 7 January in Bangkok’s bustling Bang Lamphu district, shortly after arriving in Thailand for what was meant to be a family holiday. The alleged shooter, former marine Ekkaluck Paenoi, fled to Cambodia following the incident but was subsequently apprehended by Cambodian authorities in Battambang province and extradited to Thailand.
During initial police interviews, Paenoi identified a Cambodian national known as “Wang” or “Ly” as the person who commissioned the killing. However, the former marine later became uncooperative, describing the mastermind only as a “benefactor” and refusing to provide further details. Investigators subsequently relied on mobile phone records to build their case against the suspects.
CCTV footage proved crucial in identifying Kimsaren’s alleged role as the spotter who tracked the victim’s movements. Thai police are now working with their Foreign Affairs Division to secure an Interpol red notice, hoping to facilitate the international manhunt for both suspects.
The case has highlighted the complexities of cross-border criminal investigations and strained diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia, as authorities from both nations coordinate their efforts to bring the suspects to justice.
