A TEAM of a hundred policemen, soldiers, volunteers and officials are hunting for a detainee who escaped from Buriram Provincial Prison yesterday afternoon (July 3) with a reward of 50,000 baht offered for his capture, Amarin TV said this morning.
The male detainee, Mr. Kowit Kwatkhuntod, nicknamed “Prisoner Soi Chu”, 42, who is undergoing trial on charges of stealing cows from farmers in many areas and slaughtering them for sale, escaped at around 1 p.m. by using blankets tied together as a rope and climbing over the prison wall.
Later, Buriram Governor Mr. Piya Pichanam, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Narongsak Phromtha, commander of Buriram provincial police, Mr. Krittapop Chanphudom, commander of Korat Central Prison and acting commander of Prison Area 3, and Ms. Wiyada Chanthong, commander of Buriram prison, went to the search zone to follow up on tracking down the escaped detainee.
Local residents had told the team that a suspicious man dressed like a prisoner was seen near the provincial government centre and footprints spotted in the forest behind it
As they have not been able to capture him, with two K9 dogs and a thermal drone helping in the chase, a reward of 50,000 baht has been offered to anyone who helps them while the manhunt continues.
Police said Kowit is the leader of a gang with two other members being Mr. Amphan, or Bass, 20, his son, and Mr. Chan, or To, 43, who are from Nakhon Ratchasima. They have been travelling around stealing cows from farmers, both tied in the fields and locked in their pens, brutally slaughtering them right there and taking the meat for sale to butchers and leaving the carcasses behind.
Farmers are terrified of this gang.
He was apprehended after three cow thieves who were arrested on May 27 identified him.
CAPTION:
The escaped detainee and officers and officials hunting for him. Photos: Amarin TV
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