A THAI convict on the run since last October who managed to dodge weeks-long search for him in the jungles of Banthad mountains in Trang province has been arrested in Bali, Indonesia, where he was found holding a fake Indonesian passport and pretending to be dumb because he could not speak the language, Amarin TV said this afternoon (May 30).
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said in a message posted on X (Twitter) that Mr. Chaowalit Thongduang, or Sia Pang Nanode, has been apprehended under joint action by Thai police, Justice and Foreign ministries and Indonesian authorities.
While serving a 20 years and six months jail term for attempted murder since 2022, Chaowalit escaped from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital on Oct. 22, 2023 after being taken there for dental treatment but afterwards admitted upon collapsing due to leg pains. Even though he was restrained to the bed and was wearing leg shackles he escaped that night.
During the manhunt for Chaowalit a shootout between police and him and his men occurred on Nov.8 in thick mountainous jungles but he still managed to slip away.
Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong said the escaped convict had mainly stayed in Medan where he has a large condominium but also travelled to Bali and many other cities. He is being brought to Jakarta from Bali tomorrow.
He was caught while holidaying in Bali where he had got into a fight with an Indonesian woman and was assaulted which led to Indonesian police stepping in and then tracing his background.
Investigation revealed that some people, mainly women, flew from Thailand to meet Sia Pang Nanode in Indonesia. It is still being investigated whether any of them are his family members.
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Top and Front Page: Mr. Chaowalit Thongduang, or Sia Pang Nanode. Photos: Thai Rath
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