Cambodian police named the above suspect as Ekkalak Pheanoi (41 years old), while some Thai media channels said the suspect was Ekkalak Paenoi and a former marine, according to AFP.
Ekkalak Pheanoi was escorted by police in Bangkok (Thailand) on January 11
On January 11, Ekkalak Pheanoi confessed to shooting and killing Mr. Lim Kimya (73 years old), a former parliamentarian of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), in a video broadcast live after being charged with murder. intention and illegal possession of guns, according to AFP.
Mr. Lim Kimya was shot dead on January 7 when he arrived in Bangkok by bus from Cambodia with his French wife. Mr. Lim Kimya also holds French nationality.
Ekkalak Pheanoi was arrested in Cambodia on January 8, before being extradited to Thailand on January 11.
“The shooter said he took this job to repay someone who helped him during a difficult period after he was discharged from the navy,” said Attaporn Wongsiripreeda, a senior police officer in Bangkok. said, according to AFP.
Some Thai media reported that Ekkalak Pheanoi was paid 60,000 baht (44 million VND), but Mr. Attaporn told a Thai television station that Ekkalak Pheanoi confirmed he did not receive the money. Mr. Attaporn refused to elaborate further when asked by AFP.
Another senior police officer in Thailand said on January 11 that an arrest warrant for a Cambodian accomplice had also been issued.
At the trial scheduled for January 13, Thai police will seek to detain Ekkalak Pheanoi before trial, according to AFP.
