Villagers heard gunfire at about 10pm and found the body of Sanon Orachon, 52, on a bridge next to his motorcycle. He was chief of Moo 2 village in Tambon Chian Khao,
Three gunshot wounds were found on the right side of Sanon’s body and three spent ammunition shells were found at the scene.
Sanon was returning from his relative’s home when he was attacked by an unknown number of assailants, police said.
Police said the killing might have been a result of his conflicts with a group of villagers, who tried to have him removed, or his conflicts with certain senior government officials, whom he had filed complaints against. Police have also not ruled out local politics and extramarital affairs as possible motives.