PUBLISHED : 29 Oct 2023 at 04:00
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A woman has been arrested for allegedly helping a prisoner serving time for attempted murder escape from a hospital in the province, bringing the total number of suspects arrested in the case to four.
Police yesterday took the woman, identified only as Wilawan, to Muang district police station for questioning.
Chaowalit Thongduang, alias Sia Paeng Na Nod, fled the hospital Sunday morning and has not yet been caught.
He was taken there for dental treatment and was subsequently admitted after collapsing, citing severe leg pain.
According to police, Ms Wilawan transferred money to another suspect, known only as Non, to cover his expenses during the escape.
Non was told to drive a car to lead a pickup truck that took the prisoner away from the hospital. The pickup was later seized at a temple in Phatthalung.
Another pickup was reportedly travelling behind the vehicle carrying the prisoner for additional security.
Police will also seek an arrest warrant for Non, said Pol Col Natthawut Thongthip, deputy commander of Nakhon Si Thammarat police.
A criminal check showed that Non, a close aide of Chaowalit, had served jail time for drug and war weapons offences. He was released from jail almost one year ago.
Chaowalit was sentenced to 20 years and six months in jail last year by the Phatthalung Provincial Court for attempted murder in connection with an armed attack on police during an attempted abduction on Sept 2, 2019, in Phatthalung.
Chaowalit began serving his sentence at Phatthalung Prison in January 2022 and was transferred to Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison on Aug 7 this year. He also faces multiple other criminal charges.