PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Police officer injured in a shootout yesterday morning has had his right leg amputated in order to save his life.
Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok, 34, was quickly transferred to the Prince of Songkla University Hospital in Haad Yai yesterday after he was shot in the leg and in the stomach in a gunfight at a housing estate near Phuket Town (story
here).
Officers arrived at the scene at the Phuket Garden Ville housing estate near Phuket Rajabhat University (map
here), at 2:30am to find two men shot dead in their rented room.
The body of Saran Chaithum, 26, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was leaning against the open door to the room. In the bed was the body of Chalermpol Tripuk, 26, from Trang.
Both had been killed by gunshots to the body.
Natthapong Kaewkuanchum, 25, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was also found in the room, injured by gunfire, and was taken to Vachira Hospital. The
Phuket Gazette has yet to confirm whether Mr Natthapong is still alive.
Phuket City Police chief Sermphan Sirikong confirmed to the
Gazette this afternoon that Sgt Pinchai has been charged with murder.
“We have charged him with murder as a precaution. His was the only gun found at the scene,” Col Sermphan explained.
“He has been charged because we believe that he was somehow involved in the incident, but at this stage we just don’t know how,” he added.
However, Sgt Pinchai has so far declined to give any statement to investigators, Col Sermphan confirmed.
“We have sent bullets and casings to the Phuket Forensics Office to determine whether the bullets that killed the two men were fired from Sgt Pinchai’s gun,” he said.
Before joining the Phuket Tourist Police, Sgt Pinchai served as an officer with the Phuket City Police for five years, the police chief confirmed.
“He transferred to join the Tourist Police two years ago,” he said.
