25-11-2023 (BANGKOK) In a determined stance, national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has asserted that the police will not engage in negotiations with the escaped prisoner Chaowalit Thongduang, widely known as “Sia Pang Na Node.” However, he assured that the police would guarantee Chaowalit’s safety should he choose to surrender.
Pol Gen Torsak responded to reports suggesting that Chaowalit, who has been on the run for over two weeks, had recently reached out to the police, laying down conditions for his surrender.
While confirming that Chaowalit had made contact with the police, Pol Gen Torsak clarified that the communication was not direct, and he emphatically stated that Chaowalit did not have the authority to dictate terms or conditions.
The police chief highlighted the option for Chaowalit to surrender, assuring him of safety. He cautioned that by evading arrest and remaining a fugitive, Chaowalit would expose himself to ongoing danger.
Addressing the ongoing efforts to recapture the convict, Pol Gen Torsak defended the police’s mobilization of resources to track down Chaowalit. He acknowledged that adverse weather conditions were complicating the hunt.
Pol Gen Torsak outlined the police’s strategy, stating that if evidence suggested Chaowalit had eluded them, they would withdraw from current areas and devise new operations to locate and apprehend him.
Recent reports indicated that Chaowalit had established contact with the police through a trusted intermediary, presenting two conditions for his surrender. These conditions included the police guaranteeing his safety and refraining from legal action against those who assisted in his escape.
Chaowalit, aged 37, had been serving time for attempted murder when he escaped from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital on October 22nd, where he had undergone dental treatment. Despite being restrained and wearing leg chains, he successfully fled into the Banthad mountain range, spanning Phatthalung, Trang, and Satun provinces.
The extensive operation to recapture Chaowalit, reported to cost 10 million baht, involved the mobilization of hundreds of police and state officials. Safety concerns prompted certain communities to avoid their farmland during the operation.
