A POLICEMAN who shot dead a suspected thief in a struggle at a Phuket temple has been cleared of wrong-doing by a high-level investigation.

The policeman, who has not been named, waited at the Buddhist temple on Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, on Saturday night after the Kathina festival. Locals had asked for help to bring to an end a series of robberies from the temple.

About 1.25am, the officer heard a man hammering at the temple door with a large wooden staff, apparently attempting a break-in.

When confronted by the officer, the man turned and took off down the hillside. As the officer descended, police said, the man waited in ambush then sprang out and attacked the officer with the staff.

The policeman drew his gun and fired four shots, the source said, killing his assailant.

An investigation led by Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, included doctors, a local justice, and the public prosecutor and concluded that there was no case against the officer.

''In the dark, he may not have known whether the man had a gun or a knife,'' Colonel Wanchai said.

The officer was hurt, but not seriously. The man was shot four times in the chest, the investigation found.