Former Lawmaker Opens Fire Outside Provincial Council Office
Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Riewraeng was arrested after allegedly shooting dead Thongchai Yenprasert, president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO), outside the council's office on Monday morning. Police said the shooting took place at around 10:20am as Thongchai was preparing to leave in his vehicle, when Chalong approached and knocked on the window. When Thongchai lowered it to speak with him, Chalong allegedly opened fire, shooting him four times, including in vital areas. Thongchai's driver was also struck by a bullet during the attack.
Police at the scene quickly subdued and arrested Chalong, taking him into custody at Rattanathibet Police Station for questioning. He has since been charged with premeditated murder as investigators examine the circumstances of the shooting.
Police Say Debt Dispute Behind the Attack
Pol Lt Gen Wattana Yeejeen, commander of Provincial Police Region 1, said Chalong claimed Thongchai had refused to repay an outstanding debt, which earlier reports put at around 11 million baht. Investigators are continuing to examine the dispute as part of the murder case, along with the sequence of events that led to the shooting outside the PAO office.
The killing of a sitting provincial council president has drawn significant attention in Nonthaburi and across the country, with local authorities pledging a full investigation into the incident and the debt dispute that police say triggered it.
