A former member of Thailand’s House of Representatives has allegedly shot a former police colonel outside a government office in Nonthaburi province, leaving two people injured.
The suspect, Chalong Reawraeng, allegedly opened fire at Thongchai Yenprasert, who was shot several times and remains in a severe condition, according to the provincial governor, Chettha Mosikarat.
Thongchai was struck in the neck, while his driver was shot in the arm and hand. Both men were taken to hospital for surgery.
“He still has pulse and has been sent in for an operation because the bullet hit his neck and cut through major veins,” Chettha said. “The doctors decided to perform an operation to stitch the damaged veins.”
The governor said Chalong and Thongchai had known each other for a long time but said he was unaware of any dispute between them.
Chalong later spoke to reporters from the police station where he was being held and acknowledged carrying out the shooting.
“I’d like to apologise to the people of Nonthaburi who loved the PAO chief, or his family, or any other people,” Chalong said.
“I didn’t intend to do anything, because he’s a good friend of mine, but he didn’t want to talk to me.”
“My family will be in deep sorrow. My daughter will surely be heartbroken,” he added. “They wouldn’t think this is something I would have done.”
Chalong said the incident followed a dispute over money and claimed Thongchai was angry with him.
“I told him to take responsibility on this. If you don’t have [the money] now, you can pay in instalments to my children… I told him I’m in trouble,” he explained.
“He then pushed me, saying ‘I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk.’”
Chalong said he followed Thongchai towards his car before the shooting.
“When I pulled the gun out, I didn’t intend to shoot him. But then [Thongchai’s driver] pulled his gun out and pointed it at me, so I fired.”
The shooting comes days after a teenager allegedly shot his grandparents and opened fire at a school in the same province, killing seven people.
The latest incident is expected to renew debate over gun control in Thailand, which has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia.
Following Friday’s school shooting, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered tougher enforcement against people carrying guns in public.
Police were also directed to establish checkpoints as part of a crackdown, alongside tighter controls on the possession, carrying and use of firearms.
“No one has the right to carry a firearm, especially in a public place,” Anutin said, rejecting self-defence as justification for carrying a weapon.
An estimated 10.3 million firearms were in civilian possession in Thailand in 2017, according to the Small Arms Survey. That amounts to about 15 guns per 100 residents.