BANGKOK – A famous fugitive in Thailand, also a well-known mocker of the Thai justice system, who escaped from jail while being treated at a hospital in October 2023 and fled Thailand in November, Pang Na-nhood has been arrested in Indonesia after 222 days.
On May 30, Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, reported the progress of the arrest of “Paeng Na-nhood” to the Prime Minister at the Government House. He stated that today the Indonesian authorities have arrested Mr. Chawalit Thongduang, also known as Pang Na-nhoad, in Bali. Tomorrow, arrangements will be made to receive him in Jakarta.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice, the Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been following the case closely. In addition, the Ministry of Correctional Services, the The Narcotics Control Board, the Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation and, the Prime Minister’s advisor, Gen. Niphat Thonglek, who has experience in international affairs, have been coordinating with Indonesia.
“The Indonesian police have been very cooperative. This morning they arrested him in Bali and made a video call for me to interrogate Paeng Na-nhood and confirm his identity. I have to thank the Royal Thai Police, especially the provincial police of Region 9,” Thawee said.
The investigation revealed that Pang Na-nhoad, after fleeing Thailand, forged a passport as a national of Aceh and entered Indonesia, where he cautiously stayed in Medan and Bali. The authorities kept him under constant surveillance, especially those who visited him. When he was checked, he pretended to be mute because he couldn’t speak Indonesian.
This arrest could reveal a network of criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, as we have investigated. This was done in cooperation, especially with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which coordinated and informed Indonesia. Recently, Thailand and Indonesia have cooperated in the pursuit of major drug traffickers, highlighting the professionalism and capabilities of the Indonesian police.
The important information came from a Thai female officer who was arrested in the case where a group of Thai men abducted a 29-year-old Indonesian man from Songkhla Province to Phatthalung Province, demanding a ransom from the victim’s sister in Indonesia.
When asked who had visited Paeng Na-nhoad, Thawee explained that most of them were women who weren’t family members but were linked to a recent kidnapping of Indonesians for ransom. Further investigation is needed.
When asked about the circumstances of Paeng Na-nhoad’s arrest, Thawee said he was on holiday in Bali. He normally lived in a large apartment in Medan, but further investigation is needed.
“The Indonesian authorities will take him to Jakarta and we will meet him there. I must thank General Niphat Thonglek for his expertise, as he previously worked in Aceh. I have just returned from the coordination efforts and will be travelling myself to bring Paeng Na-nhoad back, probably tomorrow,” Thawee said.
Like action movie, Pang Na-nhode had escaped from Maharat Hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on October 22, 2023, at 1:00 a.m., despite being closely guarded by prison officers. He fled to the mountainous areas of Satun Province. Although the authorities spent several days tracking him down and nearly captured him once, he managed to escape out of the country.
Police suspected that a male dog named Mee (meaning bear), was the one who barked a warning to Pang so he could flee. Now the dog has stayed with the police.
On November 24, 2023, Pang posted a video of himself saying he had left the mountain. He praised everyone who assisted and supported him while at the same time criticising the legal process for accusing, arresting, neglecting, and mistreating him by prosecutors, military, police, and politicians.
After a long escape, Pang told Minister Tawee via video call that he was cornered. He never prepared himself for the possibility of getting caught. The reason he came out to travel was that he thought it was the safest time. If he didn’t think it was safe, he would have stayed in his room in Medan. While out traveling, he got into an altercation and physically assaulted an Indonesian person in Bali, which eventually led to his arrest.
As the Minister of Justice, Tawee told Pang to enter the judicial process and assured him that the authorities would guarantee his safety.
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