A Thai air force plane will fly one of Thailand’s most wanted fugitives home after apprehending him on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali, following months on the run in connection with several killings and drug trafficking accusations in his home country, officials said on Monday.
Chaowalit Thongduang fled from Thailand’s prison facility while receiving medical treatment. Wahyu Widada, head of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, apprehended him on Thursday carrying a fake Indonesian national identity card, which he obtained shortly after arriving in Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh in December after a 17-hour speedboat trip from India.
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“The fugitive who was secured is one of Thailand’s most wanted fugitives because he committed many crimes before eventually fleeing to Indonesia to hide,” Widada stated.
During a raid on his apartment in Bali’s Badung district, authorities caught Chaowalit, also known as “Pang Na Node.” Authorities recovered four cellphones from him, as well as various bogus identification documents.
“We are still investigating local residents who helped issue Chaowalit’s fake identity,” Widada stated.
According to Phanurat Lukboon, secretary general of Thailand’s narcotics control board, police discovered many pieces of evidence, including a phony identification card and birth certificate in the name of Sulaiman, which Chaowalit reportedly utilized, as well as an Indonesian bank account book.
Chaowalit must have received assistance in entering Indonesia when he arrived. “We are now investigating to find out who is behind all of this,” Phanurat added.
Tawee Sodsong, the Thai Minister of Justice, confirmed that a military plane will return Chaowalit to Thailand on Tuesday. Police are seeking Chaowalit for the murder or attempted murder of police officers and others, along with drug trafficking.
Tawee stated that Chaowalit congratulated the authorities for tracing him after fleeing through various countries.
In December of last year, The Bangkok Post reported that he received a life sentence in absentia for an attempted murder in 2019.
An operation costing over 10 million baht ($271,816) dispatched hundreds of police personnel to apprehend him.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed confidence that the legal system that seized Chaowalit will bring him to justice.
In 1978, Indonesia and Thailand concluded an extradition pact.
