PUBLISHED : 28 Oct 2023 at 07:49
SONGKHLA: One of five suspects wanted in connection with aiding the escape of 37-year-old prisoner Chaowalit Thongduang, alias “Sia Paeng Nanod”, from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital, has been arrested in Hat Yai district.
Khanet “Boy” Thongprajong, 28, was apprehended inside a shopping mall in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district on Thursday evening as he went to watch a movie. He admitted to the charges during police questioning at Muang station in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday.
Khanet was among the five suspects facing arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in aiding the escape of the prisoner — who is incarcerated for a number of serious crimes — from the hospital on the night of Oct 22. Chaowalit had been taken from prison to the hospital for dental treatment that Friday and was subsequently kept in after collapsing, citing severe leg pain.
During questioning yesterday, Khanet initially denied involvement, but he later confessed when presented with CCTV footage from the hospital. He admitted to providing a mobile phone and tools to Chaowalit last Friday night.
Police took him to Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital yesterday to reenact the crime. Police also seized his motorcycle at a rented house in Muang district.
According to Khanet’s confession, he had known Chaowalit in Central Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison, where he was serving a sentence for drug charges. Following his release, Chaowalit contacted him.
Khanet now faces charges of colluding in helping a prisoner escape, which carries a prison term of up to five years.
Police suspected Chaowalit may be hiding in Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary, a refuge for animals that covers four southern provinces.
Police were tracing the prisoner in the area via mobile phone signals.