NARATHIWAT - The driver of the vehicle used to attack a Prachachat Party MP, during which his police escort and driver were wounded, has been arrested in Bangkok. He is the third suspect held, one remains at large.
It was also reported the vehicle used in the attack belongs to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and was later broken up for parts and junked.
Pol Lt Gen Piyawat Chaloemsri, commander of Provincial Police Region 9, said Alawi Awae was apprehended in the capital on Sunday and taken back to Narathiwat, where the shooting occurred, for interrogation.
The southern police chief alleged Mr Alawi had confessed to being the driver of the pickup truck used in the attack on Kamonsak Leewamoh (MP) on March 20 near his house in Bacho district as he was returning home from Hat Yai airport.
Mr Kamonsak is a well-known human rights lawyer. He was unhurt, but his driver and police escort were both seriously wounded.
Three suspects have now been arrested, a fourth remains on the run.
The Prachachat Party set up a team to follow the progress of the investigation after learning that the pickup used by the gunman belonged to Isoc.
Diassembled parts from the vehicle were found by police investigators at a junk yard in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat on Wednesday. Investigators believed it was an attempt to conceal its ownership.
The Reporters, an online news outlet, reported on Sunday the truck was owned by the Isoc office in Narathiwat, citing provincial governor Boonchuay Homyamyen.
The name Capt Montri Toprasert of the Narathiwat Isoc office was listed as the officer requesting the use of the vehicle, the governor, who is also the ex-officio provincial Isoc chief, told The Reporters.
Col Ekwarit Chopchuphol, deputy spokesman for Isoc Region 4 Forward Command, earlier said Isoc would cooperate with police investigating the case, but would not otherwise be involved because it was a police matter.
