Police have arrested Thanuu
“Nu Makhamkhu” Klanthut (seated, center), the last remaining suspect in the
2008 killing of a car care executive.
Boonlua Chatree
Police have arrested the last remaining suspect in the
2008 killing of a car care executive. The suspect has been hiding out for
nearly four years, training as both a monk and sniper.
Thanuu “Nu Makhamkhu” Klanthut, 40, was apprehended in
full monk’s robes as he walked on Suanson Beach in Prachuap Kirikhan, a
province known for producing hitmen. He had been ordained as a monk at Aow
Luknoi Temple, but was known to be perfecting his shooting skills at a
sniper camp nearby.
Thanuu was wanted for the Oct. 30, 2008 shooting death of
Jai Sukhmak, 42, a landfill contractor and owner of Sukhmak Car Care. Former
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Rewat Phonlookin was also injured in the incident after
getting shot in the hand.
Police allege Thanuu and two others chased down the two
men and Jai’s wife Nongnuch in Khao Maikaew and opened fire on their car
with an M-16 machine gun. His wife was also seriously injured.
Police arrested Pratcha Thummasaroch, 33, and Banphacha
Kaewsomnuk, 32, shortly after, charging them as accessories in the killing.
Thanuu, however, escaped.