4-6-2024 (JAKARTA) In a resolute act of international cooperation, Indonesian authorities have deported one of Thailand’s “most wanted” fugitives, Chaowalit Thongduang, to face a litany of charges, including murder and drug-related offenses, in his home country. The 37-year-old, also known by the moniker “Pang Na Node,” had been on the run since his daring escape from custody last year, prompting a massive manhunt that spanned across national borders.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded on Tuesday (Jun 4) when Chaowalit, who had been arrested by Indonesian police on the resort island of Bali just a week prior, was escorted to Jakarta’s international airport under the watchful eyes of 10 police officers. According to national police official Krishna Murti, the fugitive was then deported on a “special plane provided by the Thai government,” concluding his brief but eventful sojourn in the archipelago nation.
Chaowalit’s case has been the subject of intense scrutiny and international cooperation, as Thai narcotics control authorities have accused him of a litany of grave offenses, ranging from murder to drug-related crimes. His extraordinary journey to evade justice began in December 2023, when he entered the westernmost Indonesian province of Aceh after a 17-hour journey by speedboat from Thailand, before making his way to the island paradise of Bali.
GENGSTER KELAS SATU BURONAN THAILAND DITANGKAP POLRI????‼
Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia (Polri) membeberkan kronologi penangkapan buronan paling dicari di Thailand, Chaowalit Thongduang.
Kadiv Hubinter Polri Irjen Krishna Murti mengungkap bahwa Chaowalit merupakan… pic.twitter.com/Ul4tofzMxP
— Radio Elshinta (@RadioElshinta) June 4, 2024
Chaowalit’s exploits, however, date back much further. In December of the previous year, the Bangkok Post reported that he had been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment in an attempted murder case dating back to 2019, a verdict that had set in motion a massive manhunt involving hundreds of police officers and costing around 10 million baht (US$273,654).
The fugitive’s arrest in Bali marked a significant breakthrough in the pursuit of justice, as Indonesian authorities seized several pieces of crucial evidence, including a fake identity card and birth certificate under the name “Sulaiman,” which Chaowalit had allegedly been using to evade capture.
