BANGKOK, Jan 7 – Gunmen opened fires at a car of Special Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office of Thailand SurachetHakparn in Bangkok Monday night, but the motive is still unknown.
Pol Lt Gen Surachet was a high-profile police officer who was sacked last year from the post of immigration police chief. He was actively implemented the government’s immigration policy as well as crime suppressions before being abruptly stripped of the rank and position.
His car parked at a restaurant in Bang Rak district was shot seven times into the side but he was not in the vehicle.
Bang Rak police said CCTV images and witnesses’ accounts suggested that two men on a motorcycle fired the shots before fleeing.
While Pol Lt Gen Surachet has said he is certain the gunmen intended to kill him, police investigators believed it was rather an intimidation.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen WirachaiSongmetta said forensic experts and investigators were examining the bullets to determine the type of firearm and CCTV images.
Police would ask Pol Lt Gen Surachet to provide further information for the investigation, Pol Gen Wirachai said.
Pol Lt Gen Surachet has also maintained that he has not conflicts with anyone.
The former police officer who has close ties with Deputy Prime Minister PrawitWongsuwan had led a massive operation to eradicate loan sharks and supervised high-profile criminal cases while serving in the police force in the past five years.