Police are going after a Phuket businessman suspected of masterminding the murder of a young woman and her boyfriend in Chon Buri and thought to be trying to flee to Cambodia.
Panya Yingdung, 39, is one of three suspects in the case wanted on arrest warrants approved by the Pattaya Court on Tuesday on murder charges. The other two were Jeerasak Unaiban and Sayant Srisook.
All were accused of killing Paveena Namuangrak, 20, and Anantachai Jaritrum, 21, in a parking lot at famous Khao Chee Chan (Buddha Mountain) in Sattahip district of Chon Buri province on Sunday. A gunman fired seven shots into their vehicle, killing both of them.
Investigators pointed to jealousy as a possible motive after they found out that Paveena worked at an entertainment venue run by Mr Panya in Phuket, and she was his favourite.
Mr Sayant was arrested on Tuesday and was taken for a crime reenactment on Wednesday. Police believed he had kept his boss, Mr Panya, informed of the movements of Paveena and her boyfriend, before the businessman allegedly approved the murder.
Deputy national police chief Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said investigators were still uncertain who had pulled the trigger.
Mr Panya and Mr Jeerasak were still on the run. (continues below)
Sayant Srisook (second left) is arrested in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, on Tuesday for alleged collusion with two other suspects in the murder of a woman and her boy friend on Sunday. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Sa Kaeo police on Wednesday found a pickup truck bearing Phuket number plates abandoned on a road in Muang district. Records showed it was registered to Mr Panya, according to Pol Col Pirom Chantrapirom, the superintendent of Muang police station.
The location of the vehicle supported the theory Mr Panya was trying to flee to Cambodia.
Sa Kaeo police chief Pol Maj Gen Surajit Kingnawan ordered all police stations along the border to keep a watch out for the suspect and other vehicles he owned.
