Justice minister to bring fugitive Pang Nanode back to Thailand

A Thai delegation, led by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, will fly to Indonesia on Saturday for talks with Indonesian officials about bringing Chaowalit Thongduang, aka “Pang Nanode”, back to Thailand to serve his prison term.

Chaowalit was arrested in Bali, Indonesia, yesterday by Indonesian police, after he allegedly attacked his Indonesia girlfriend.

Tawee said today that Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, the acting national police chief, has been coordinating with his Indonesian counterpart about the deportation of Chaowalit.

Asked whether the Thai fugitive can be brought back to Thailand, because he allegedly assaulted an Indonesian national in Bali, the justice minister said that, at this stage, there is no problem.

Other members in the delegation will include General Niphat Thonglek, the prime minister’s advisor and Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation.

Chaowalit escaped from a hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat on October 22nd last year. On December 25th, he was sentenced in absentia to life by Phatthalung provincial court for attempting to murder a police officer back in 2019.