A Prachin Buri police officer is facing attempted murder charges after shooting a Naklua gangster in a Pattaya restaurant.
Pol. Lance Cpl. Naretruk Kurwara, from the Wangkondang Police Station, surrendered himself and the gun used after the Sept. 17 shootout at the All New Mouthburi restaurant on Third Road.
He claimed the shooting was justified and in self-defense, as he was returning fire at Somchai “Chai Wat Pho” Chua, who had just shot Pattaya Pol. Sgt. Maj. Pawaret Bangong in the arm.
Pawaret was in stable condition with a broken arm following the shooting. Somchai, however, was shot several times and remained in serious condition. Police have charged him with attempted murder and carrying an illegal weapon in public.
Shooting broke out after Somchai and an unidentified woman got into a heated argument in the restaurant. Pawaret tried to break it up when Somchai pulled a gun.
Pattaya police chief Pol. Col. Apichai Kroppech said the charges against Naretruk are still being investigated and it was indeed possible he discharged the gun in self-defense. However, the weapon was not his. It belonged to Pawaret. The Prachin Buri officer grabbed it after the Pattaya officer went down.
 |
 |
