Funerals first, then police will hunt down Phuket riot suspects

Police will wait for the funerals to be held of the two young men whose deaths sparked the Thalang Police Station riot earlier this month before they unleash their manhunt for 47 suspects wanted for their roles in the historic unrest.

“We will wait for the funerals of the two young boys [sic] to be held, then we will hunt them down,” Region 8 Police Commander Lt Gen Tesa Siriwato told The Phuket News today (Oct 21).

The riot erupted on October 10 after Prathomwat Panarak, 22, and a 17-year-old whose name has been withheld died after a collision with a police car during a high-speed pursuit.

Officers claim they found 50 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills and one kilogramme of kratom, though it was revealed yesterday that blood tests on the remains of the two men found no traces of drugs in their systems. (See story here.)

The Phuket Provincial Court issued 14 more arrest warrants for riot suspects yesterday (Oct 20), bringing the total number of suspects wanted by police to 47.

Gen Tesa said that he believes that some of them may have fled the area, but remains confident with police will arrest – and prosecute – them.

“Most of them are locals. We have clear pictures and some videos of the suspects. No matter where they are, we will find them,” Gen Tesa said.

Phuket News

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