Police start hunt for escapee

Sa Kaeo police are hunting down a drug suspect who managed to flee from an escort while being taken to a detention room of Sa Kaeo Provincial Court.

The man shouted: “Is mum coming?” before running from a group of 29 detainees toward a waiting white Toyota Vios that sped off from the area.

Police launched an immediate hunt and contacted the 12th Infantry Regiment for help, Sa Kaeo police chief Pol Maj Gen Yingyot Thepchamnong said yesterday.

The car, which had no licence plate, was seen driving on the Sa Kaeo-Khao Hin Son route, also known as Road No.359, heading towards Ban Khlong Malako in tambon Sakwan of Sa Kaeo’s Muang district. The route connects with the neighbouring province of Chachoengsao.

The suspect, identified as Choengchai Chumchuen, was nabbed on Nov 30 last year for possessing 4kg of speed pills and crystal methamphetamine for sale and carrying a gun without permission.

The 26-year-old, along with his wife Parinya Saento and Thawatchai Wongkham, was under detention when he escaped late yesterday morning. He shouted and ran to the car which was only about 20 metres away from a vehicle that took the detainees to court, officers said.

The incident happened very quickly, one witness at the court compound said, adding the speeding car emitted a burning smell. The black tinted windows of the car also made it impossible to see who was inside, he said.

Court police will be summoned for questioning to find “those responsible” for the escape, Pol Maj Gen Yingyog said.

Police are also checking who visited Mr Choengchai while he was in jail, in the hope of finding a link to his escape plot, the Sa Kaeo police chief said.