Twenty-eight locations in Chiang Rai’s Wiang Kaen district were searched by some 500 soldiers, police and administrative officials on Thursday morning as part of the investigation into the fatal April 24 ambush on Hmong kamnan Thaweesak Yodmaneebanphot and his family.

A court in Thonburi has dealt a blow to police esteem, freeing a Nakhon Phanom man accused of theft and criticising investigators for weak evidence and poor handling of witnesses.