'Gunman' who shot Songkhla mayor nabbed, five sought

Paisal was charged with conspiracy to murder, possessing a gun and ammunition without permission and carrying a weapon in a public place. 

He denied all charges.

Police took Paisal, 47 – suspected of belonging to a gun-for-hire racket in Ra Note district – to search a house on Nan Sarn Road that belonged to Provincial Administrative Organisation president Uthit Chuchuay, as Paisal was reportedly a close aide of Uthit and lived in this house, in order to look for more evidence. 

Uthit was the elder brother of Kitti Chuchuay, the owner of Simila Radio Station, where the pick-up suspected of being used in the shooting was found. 

Paisal had a prior murder offence in Ra Note district five years ago.

The police investigation found six people involved in the shooting, including Paisal, but police were gathering evidence for arrest warrants for the remaining five, an informed source reported. 

The key evidence against Paisal includes a spent Carbine bullet found in the suspicious four-door pick-up truck because it matched those found at the scene as well as the car registration paper and a picture of the racket’s head. Police were summoning 10 eyewitnesses to give information but none dared to be a witness because they fear for their lives.

Meanwhile, Songkhla residents continued to mourn Peera’s death. Many laid flowers yesterday and posted messages praising Peera at the shooting scene, the Songkhla Forum Office. The source reported messages such as; “Being a politician that won people’s hearts isn’t easy but you did that, Peera Tantiseranee. We will not forget you.” People said they loved and respected Peera as a good politician who did great things for Songkhla City and none foresaw that he would be shot dead. They urged police to punish the gunmen and the mastermind.