PHUKET: Police are investigating what appears to be an attempt by a gunman to murder a Phuket village headman - or an attempt to warn him not to cause trouble.
Seven shots were fired from a homemage thai pradit handgun at Winai Chitchiew as he talked to a friend in Patak Road, Karon, about 12.30am today. The shots came from a passing pickup.
The problem for Khun Winai, 36, is that he is involved in several disputes and cannot be sure who ordered the shooting or why.
The popular kamnan of Karon's Soi Nine, off Patak Road, went to Chalong police at 8.30am to report the shooting to Colonel Nitikorn Rawong, then later reenacted the incident at the scene.
Khun Winai said he rode his motorcycle back from a memorial ceremony early today and in Patak Road, close to his home, encountered a friend, Narong Seanern, 42.
The pair stopped to chat. They saw a dark Mitsubishi with Trang plates, parked nearby, move off. As the vehicle passed, the driver's passenger fired the thai pradit from a distance of about three metres.
Seven shots hit the rear of a tourist minivan parked nearby, outside the Baan Karon Resort.
Investigators are unable to say whether the gun was aimed at Khun Winai, or whether it was a warning. They believe it was unlikely to have been a random shooting.
Khun Winai, who had only flown back from a trip to Bali yesterday afternoon, told police there were three serious matters in which he currently has involvement: a dispute with a five-star resort about a canal and beach restaurants; a dispute with police about corruption among Nepalese vendors in Karon, and an inquiry due to begin Monday into alleged misuse of funds at Karon temple.
Seven shots were fired from a homemage thai pradit handgun at Winai Chitchiew as he talked to a friend in Patak Road, Karon, about 12.30am today. The shots came from a passing pickup.
The problem for Khun Winai, 36, is that he is involved in several disputes and cannot be sure who ordered the shooting or why.
The popular kamnan of Karon's Soi Nine, off Patak Road, went to Chalong police at 8.30am to report the shooting to Colonel Nitikorn Rawong, then later reenacted the incident at the scene.
Khun Winai said he rode his motorcycle back from a memorial ceremony early today and in Patak Road, close to his home, encountered a friend, Narong Seanern, 42.
The pair stopped to chat. They saw a dark Mitsubishi with Trang plates, parked nearby, move off. As the vehicle passed, the driver's passenger fired the thai pradit from a distance of about three metres.
Seven shots hit the rear of a tourist minivan parked nearby, outside the Baan Karon Resort.
Investigators are unable to say whether the gun was aimed at Khun Winai, or whether it was a warning. They believe it was unlikely to have been a random shooting.
Khun Winai, who had only flown back from a trip to Bali yesterday afternoon, told police there were three serious matters in which he currently has involvement: a dispute with a five-star resort about a canal and beach restaurants; a dispute with police about corruption among Nepalese vendors in Karon, and an inquiry due to begin Monday into alleged misuse of funds at Karon temple.
Who needs lawyers and courts? In Phuket, all disputes can be settled quickly and easily with a shootout. For lovers of Western movies like me, this place is a paradise. I get a real sense of being transported to the Old West. Keep them donkeys rollin'.
Posted by Wyatt Earp on September 24, 2011 11:52