Former Thai MP Shoots Dead Local Official Over Financial Dispute

A former Thai lawmaker has allegedly shot dead a local government official in broad daylight following a financial dispute in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok.

The suspect, identified as former MP Chalong Riewrang, was arrested after the incident and later admitted to journalists at a police station that he fired the fatal shot.

The shooting occurred outside a government building in Nonthaburi on Monday, just days after a separate school shooting in the same province renewed concerns over gun control in Thailand.

Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Chalong said he had attempted to discuss a financial matter with the victim, Thongchai Yenprasert, who chaired the Nonthaburi local government administration.

“I followed him to his car and hit his car’s window, saying I want to talk. He said he will not talk, so I pulled my gun,” Chalong said.

He claimed he did not initially intend to shoot but opened fire after Thongchai’s driver allegedly pointed a gun at him.

“I did not aim to shoot, but his driver pulled a gun and pointed it at me so I fired,” he added.

Thongchai later died from his injuries, according to hospital director Sakon Sukprom. He sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and lost a significant amount of blood.

His driver was also shot in the right arm but survived after undergoing surgery, Sakon said.

Regional police commander Wattana Yeechin said preliminary investigations indicated that Chalong was the only person who fired during the incident, although both sides were armed.

A firearm was reportedly recovered from Thongchai’s vehicle but had not been used. CCTV footage also showed Chalong firing at close range, according to Wattana.

He said the dispute involved several million baht, equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars.

“It was a private issue. According to his confession, it was about money that the… chairman borrowed from him for several years, and he asked for the return of the money several times,” Wattana said.

Nonthaburi Governor Chestha Mosikarat said the suspect and victim had been friends for a long time, adding that the shooting appeared to have resulted from a misunderstanding.

The incident has also renewed scrutiny of gun ownership in Thailand, which has one of the highest rates of civilian firearm possession in the region. An estimated 10 million firearms are in circulation in the country, roughly one for every seven people.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said only on-duty officials were legally permitted to carry firearms in public, adding that the most recent gun-carry licences were issued three years ago and were valid for only one year.

Anutin vowed that authorities would take “full legal action” against Chalong, who was previously a member of the prime minister’s party.

“No matter who he is, he is now a murderer,” the prime minister said.

The shooting came days after a 14-year-old boy allegedly killed his grandparents, who had raised him, in Nonthaburi before shooting six other people at his school and subsequently taking his own life.

Following the school shooting, Thai authorities renewed calls for stricter gun control measures, although previous pledges have failed to prevent repeated incidents of gun violence.

AFP