Sunthorn and three others get life terms over Prachinburi councillor killing

Thailand’s Criminal Court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) sentenced former Prachinburi political heavyweight Sunthorn Wilawan and three other defendants to death for the killing of former provincial councillor Chaimet Sitsanitpong, before commuting the sentences to life imprisonment on mitigating grounds.

The court ordered the four defendants to jointly pay THB801,400 in compensation to the victim’s family, with annual interest of 5% calculated from the date of the killing.

Sunthorn, widely known as “Ko Thon”, is a former president of the Prachinburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), former deputy public health minister and eight-time member of parliament for the province.

Court finds killing was not premeditated

The case concerned the fatal shooting of Chaimet, known locally as “Sor Jor Tong”, at Sunthorn’s home in Mueang Prachinburi district on December 11, 2024.

Prosecutors had charged eight defendants in connection with the killing, including allegations of premeditated murder and firearms offences.

The court found that Chaimet had gone to Sunthorn’s residence with a group of about 10 people to discuss support for his wife in local politics. The talks ended without agreement and the parties initially separated, but Chaimet subsequently returned to the house while waiting for the gate to open.

The court ruled that the subsequent shooting was a response to the immediate situation rather than a killing planned in advance. It therefore convicted the four defendants of jointly committing murder, but not premeditated murder.

Forensic evidence linked three men to gunfire

The court cited gunshot-residue evidence found at concentrations consistent with having fired a weapon on the hands of Thanasarankorn Techathanatchote, Saksit Chinnawong and Sunthorn.

It found that Thanasarankorn and Saksit fired at Chaimet first. Sunthorn, who was behind Saksit, then took a shotgun and fired another three rounds at the victim.

The court also found that Apisit Sotchuen was at the scene, knew of Sunthorn’s intentions and was prepared to participate and provide support. Sunthorn, Thanasarankorn, Saksit and Apisit were consequently given death sentences, which were reduced to life imprisonment because of mitigating circumstances and evidence provided during the proceedings.

Two defendants acquitted

The court imposed separate firearms sentences on two other defendants.

The third defendant was sentenced to eight months in prison and fined THB7,000, while the fifth defendant received one year and two months in prison and a THB8,000 fine. The latter prison term was suspended for two years because he had no previous conviction.

The sixth and eighth defendants were acquitted, while charges relating to criminal association and several other alleged offences were also dismissed.

Victim’s family welcomes ruling

Nitisak Meekhuad, a lawyer representing Chaimet’s wife, said after the verdict that the court had relied heavily on forensic evidence and a reconstruction of the shooting in reaching its conclusions.

He said the evidence allowed the court to assess whether accounts given by individual defendants were consistent with the forensic findings.

Chaimet’s wife, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, known as “Sor Jor Joy”, also thanked the court, investigators and the media following the ruling, saying the family had received a measure of justice.