JB murder suspect nabbed in Thailand
> Capture of alleged mastermind ends extensive hunt by authorities
BANGKOK: After being on the run for several months, the alleged mastermind behind the brutal murder of a man at a petrol station in Johor Baru in December last year was caught in Thailand.
The suspect, who is in his 40s and has a large tattoo on his right arm, was held by Thai police in Chaiyaphum province, about 260km northeast of Bangkok at about 7am yesterday.
“The man is the most sought after suspect in the murder case. He is the alleged mastermind,” Royal Malaysian Police assistant liaison officer in Thailand Supt Ridzuan Abdul Aziz told Bernama yesterday.
His capture, following a request for assistance from Malaysian police several months ago, brought an end to an extensive hunt by authorities of both countries.
Thai police are expected to call a media conference to announce the suspect’s arrest and other details surrounding his capture.
They will also explain issues on the man’s impending extradition to Malaysia to face justice for his alleged crime.
In an interview with Bernama in Bangkok last January, Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said several of the suspects had escaped and gone into hiding in Thailand.
The police had sought the cooperation of Thai police to track down the suspects and mastermind.
The CID chief said he was confident they would track down the suspects and bring them back to Malaysia.
The police have the suspects’ photos and other records of their entry into Thailand.
A video clip of the murder had gone viral on social media.
In the Dec 17 incident, a 44 year-old man known as “Ah Chiu” was stabbed and run over by a white BMW car at Taman Pelangi petrol station.
The police arrested several men and women suspected to be linked to the case.
The police had also charged two suspects last January, while maintaining a hunt for the other suspects.