A Malaysian man on the run for five months for a gangland murder in Johor has been arrested in Chaiyaphum province.
Wong Siak Boon, 36, wanted on an Interpol red notice for a fatal stabbing at a petrol station in Johor state of Malaysia on Dec 17 last year, was apprehended in Thep Sathit district of Chaiyaphum province on Tuesday, Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn said on Wednesday.
The victim, accompanied by his wife, had stopped his car at the petrol station to put more air in his car tyres, he told a news briefing.
The suspect and his accomplices arrived in a BMW sedan, hurried over to the victim’s car and stabbed him to death. The gang then drove their car over his body as they fled.
The murder hit news headlines and drew a lot of public attention in Malaysia. Malaysian police issued warrants for the arrest of nine suspects in the case.
Mr Wong is the alleged mastermind of the murder and also the leader of a gang involved in illegal sales of cars. Malaysian police believe the murder stemmed from a business dispute and debts totalling the equivalent of 2 million baht.
The suspect had fled to Thailand, where he initially hid behind a saffron robe at a temple in Phetchabun’s Sri Thep district. He later left the monkhood and was in hiding in Thep Sathit district of Chaiyaphum when he was caught on Tuesday by investigators from the Tourist Police Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
He will be handed over to Malaysian authorities for trial.
