Top police officials award
30,000 baht each to two Banglamung police officers in compensation for
injuries sustained in a late night shooting and the subsequent arrest of
suspects Surachat “Tam Nakrob” Kaewchingduang and Aris “Kai” Wangweng.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Two Banglamung police officers connected to the hail of
gunfire that killed two suspects in Naklua last month received 30,000 baht
each in compensation as officials set aside even more money to cover future
officer-related shootings.
Both officers’ injuries were related to the July 13
police killings of Surachat “Tam Nakrob” Kaewchingduang, 22, and Aris “Kai”
Wangweng, 17, who were shot 19 times - including seven shots to the back.
Banglamung and Chonburi Provincial police said the suspects were resisting
arrest.
The Royal Thai Police’s officer-welfare committee
presented 20,000 baht each to Sr. Sgt. Maj. Tasnapong Thongtat, who was shot
in the leg after he broke up an illegal motorbike race in front of Pattaya
International School July 10. He also received 10,000 baht from the Pattaya
City Council.
Intent on tracking down the gang member who allegedly
shot their fellow officer, Banglamung and Chonburi police caught Surchat and
Aris outside Naklua’s Red Horse Resort three days later under the premise of
making an undercover weapons buy. Once money was exchanged, about 20
officers swooped in, killing both suspects, allegedly returning gunfire.
During a shootout in which more than 100 shots were
fired, Sgt. Maj. Piramongkol Karaket was hit in the leg. He, too, received
20,000 baht from the welfare committee and 10,000 baht from the city
council.
The welfare committee set aside another 80,000 baht to
cover medical expenses for officers shot in the line of duty in the future.
