112 'killers' on police wanted list

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112 'killers' on police wanted list
By Kwanhathai Malakarn
The Nation 2011-05-15

Police have added 43 more people to a blacklist of hit men, which now totals 112 professional killers sought by police nationwide ahead of the national election

The list includes Sergeant Panya Srihera and Sergeant Somchai Boonnak, suspects wanted for the assassination attempt on People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul. They are numbers 13 and 14 on the list.

Deputy national police chief General Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya said yesterday the blacklist update was part of proactive measures against possible political rivalry and poll violence. Police also wanted to catch 126 other "rising star" criminal supporters, he said.

The blacklist, known as a "criminal calendar", aims to keep police around the country informed about and watch out for known hit men, to prevent politicians from taking such men under their wings, and to inform the public to try to prevent them killing more people.

Panupong said the blacklist had been compiled since 2005. In the first year it helped police apprehend 24 criminals, or 50 per cent of those on the original list.

The 2006 edition helped police arrest another 18 persons or 36 per cent of those on the list, he said, while the 2007 edition helped police catch seven professional gunmen.

People who provide useful information that helps police to arrest a hit man identified on this year's list could get a reward of Bt100,000 - double the amount in recent years, he added.

Police were also instructed to talk to and warn political rivals in areas that are known to be highly competitive and prone to violence, in a bid to minimise poll killings, he said.

In related news, the Provincial Police Region 1 deputy chief yesterday visited Pheu Thai politician Pracha Prasobdee to interview him about the recent attempt on his life. Pracha, who is recovering from a gunshot wound in Rama 9 Hospital amid tight police security, was the first politician shot as Thailand prepares for a tense election.

Police Maj-General Kamronwit Toopkrachang said police had gathered some evidence over the past three days after the shooting of Pracha, so Kamronwit went to get information from the injured victim to try to find the shooter. So far the information obtained by police and given by Pracha matched and had been useful to the investigation, he said, adding that the suspected motive was politics - national politics and local politics.

Police investigators will meet tomorrow at Samut Prakan's Phra Pradaeng police station to discuss the case, he said.