Cable TV owner 'ordered murder'

THAILAND - Arrest warrants have been issued for three more suspects over the January 12 murder of journalist Wisut "Ae Phuket Inside" Tangwittayakorn.

One is for a Phuket Chamber of Commerce deputy president who owned a local cable TV business, Phuket police chief Pol Maj-General Chanasit Wattanawarangkul said yesterday.

After the recent arrest of Noppadol Praisri, 43, who allegedly rode a motorcycle for the gunman to fatally attack Wisut on Thung Kha-Kuan Dindaeng Road in Muang district, investigators sought arrest warrants for alleged gunman Sanya Klinchoom, 36; Somkuan Deepan, 48, the man who allegedly procured the gunman; and KPP Cable TV owner and Phuket Chamber of Commerce deputy Assadakorn Sidokbuab, 48, who was accused of hiring the gunman.

The motive for the killing was suspected to stem from the victim's work as a columnist criticising others, leading some to hold a grudge against him, Chanasit said.

None of the three had contacted police to surrender, as of late yesterday.