Cambodian National Police said that Thailand has not yet asked for their cooperation in the arrest of two murder suspects who reportedly escaped to Cambodia after allegedly shooting a Briton dead in Pattaya last Tuesday.
On the morning of Jan. 24, Tony Kenway, a 39-year-old father-of-four, was killed with a single shot to the head outside Sanit Sports Club in Pattaya. Harrowing CCTV footage showed an assassin calmly opening the door of his victim’s parked red Porsche, shooting him once and then fleeing on a motorbike driven by an accomplice.
The Thai police issued a warrant on Thursday for two suspects, British national Miles Dicken Turner, 27, and South African Abel Caldeira Bonito, 23. They face charges of colluding in murder, illegal possession of firearms and illegally carrying weapons in public.
Khmer Times quoted an immigration official that they arrived in Cambodia through Koh Kong province’s Cham Yeam international checkpoint on the day of the murder.
Cambodian Deputy National Police Commissioner Chhay Sinarith told Khmer Times on Monday that he was aware of the case but Thailand has not requested them to take action.
“We are waiting to see a detailed report and request from Thailand,” Sinarith said.
“We cannot take any action unless we have a clear report on the case. I can confirm that until now we have not received any request from the Thais.”
The Cambodian police chief’s affirmation contradicted with the Royal Thai Police’s earlier statement that they have requested Cambodian authorities to seize the men.
Meanwhile, Cambodian immigration said Thailand asked that they search for the two suspects, but it was not a request to arrest or stop them, according to Kim Rattana, the deputy director of Cham Yeam international immigration checkpoint.
“It was on Jan. 25 that the Thai checkpoint’s authorities asked us to verify whether the two suspects fled into Cambodia…and yes, we found they are in the country and are heading to Phnom Penh,” Rattana said.
“A request for action would normally come to the National Police or the Ministry of Interior, but until now we have heard nothing,” he added.
Pol.Gen. Chalermkiat Srivorakan, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, told the media that the motive is believed to be a conflict of interests in business.
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