February 7, 2005

Officer killed during counting

 NUTCHAREE RAEKROON

Nakhon Si Thammarat _ A police officer was gunned down and two others

were wounded in a shooting at a vote counting venue in constituency 3 on

Sunday night.

The shooting followed a heated argument between two groups of people

supporting different political parties.

Pol Sgt-Maj Suthee Preechacharn, 35, of Phrom Khiri district police

station, was hit in the chest and arm in the fracas, which erupted about

11pm. He died on the way to hospital.

Two others hurt by stray bullets were Manu Rakdee and Wasant Bunvibul.

The shooter, Somchai Khongduang, 33, a native of tambon Tharua, was

arrested shortly after.

Witnesses said Pol Sgt-Maj Suthee, who backed the Democrat candidate

contesting constituency 3, took a photograph of Somchai, who supported

the Thai Rak Thai candidate, at the counting venue in tambon Tharua of

Muang district.

Somchai demanded his photo be deleted from the camera but the officer

refused. An argument ensued. The officer later asked his men to surround

Somchai and members of his group.

Somchai pulled out a pistol and fired three shots at the

sergeant-major. He was charged with murder and illegal possession of a

firearm