A dramatic police standoff occurred late at night as officers attempted to apprehend a former Thai boxer, Mr. Santi Jehalee, 39, who is wanted for theft. The incident took place in the Intamara area of Bangkok, where the suspect fired warning shots before fleeing into a nearby house. Subsequently, he escaped by jumping off the balcony into the darkness. Meanwhile, his wife, alerted to his arrest, attempted to divert police attention by threatening officers with a firearm and forcing them to drive her to her hometown in Ubon Ratchathani. Along the way, she changed her mind and fled into the bushes in Wang Noi District, Ayutthaya, before eventually surrendering.
The police were notified of the situation at 7 PM on October 3, and several high-ranking officers including Pol Maj Gen Nopphasilp Poon-Sawat were involved in the operation. The suspect had previously been a Thai boxing trainer after retiring from sports. He had been evading arrest since a warrant was issued for stealing firearms and other valuables from his employer. When police attempted to apprehend him, he fired multiple shots, prompting an extensive response from law enforcement.
After hours of negotiation and searching, it was determined that Mr. Santi had escaped the house, and the officers were able to safely extract three residents, a doctor and his two sons, who were held inside the premises. Concurrently, the police sought the assistance of Mr. Santi’s wife to encourage him to surrender. However, she reacted by pointing a gun at the police before fleeing into a deserted area.
On the morning of October 4, authorities dealt with the aftermath of the situation. The wife, identified as Ms. Pojanee Bunlong, suffered an injury during her escape but later cooperated with police, providing information about her husband and the drugs they had in their possession. She was charged with several offenses, including illegal possession of a firearm and drug-related charges.
The police have warned that anyone aiding Mr. Santi will face legal consequences and indicated that they will follow strict protocols regarding his capture, whether alive or deceased. The case drew attention from higher officials, including Prime Minister Ms. Phaetongthan Shinawatra, who noted the connection between criminal incidents and drug-related issues.
Read the full “Thai Rath Newspaper Column” here.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
