The Cambodian National Police are questioning a Thai suspect arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Lim Kimya, a former MP from the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Meanwhile, Thai authorities have sought an additional warrant from the Thai Criminal Court to arrest a Cambodian national suspected of acting as a spotter for the gunman.
Kimya, a former Cambodian opposition MP with dual French-Cambodian citizenship was shot dead in Bangkok on Tuesday after arriving on a bus from Siem Reap with his wife and uncle.
The suspected gunman, Ekkalak Pheanoim, a Thai national and former marine, was arrested in Battambang, Cambodia, on Jan. 8. The arrest followed a request for cooperation and shared intelligence from Thai police.
According to the General Commissariat of National Police, Pheanoim will be sent back to Thailand after the authorities complete the proper procedures.
Battambang Provincial Police Chief Danh Eng Bunchan told CamboJA News that after the arrest, Pheanoim was quickly sent to the National Police headquarters in Phnom Penh for further questioning.
Cambodian National Police spokesperson, Chhay Kim Khoeun, declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
While the Thai suspect is being questioned, Thai police have identified a Cambodian national as another suspect, believed to have acted as a spotter, helping the gunman locate Kimya.
The Cambodian suspect reportedly travelled on the same bus as Kimya. Thai police say he returned to Cambodia after the shooting and they have obtained an arrest warrant from the Thai Criminal Court.
The Chanasongkhram Metropolitan Police Department, which has jurisdiction over Kimya’s killing, declined to comment. They referred CamboJA News to the investigation officer for questions about the procedure and cooperation with Cambodian authorities.
Phil Robertson, director of the Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), suggested Pheanoim may have fled to Cambodia for protection from those involved in the case. “The Cambodian government should immediately send the shooter back to Thailand for questioning, investigate why he fled to Battambang, and determine who he was meeting there,” he said.
Ny Sokha, president of the NGO rights group Adhoc, commended authorities for their cooperation in apprehending the suspect but stressed the need for further investigation to identify others possibly involved.
“To ensure transparency in the investigation and avoid accusations against Cambodia, the suspect should be handed over to Thai police,” he said.
Sokha also expressed concern that Thailand is no longer a safe haven for Cambodians fleeing political repression.
Aside from being an opposition politician, Kimya had been an outspoken critic of the Cambodian government, frequently using his Facebook to highlight human rights violations and the intimidation of activists.
Thai authorities have recently arrested and deported many Cambodian dissidents, heightening fears within the exiled community.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said the case is still under investigation and declined to provide details, noting that the incident occurred on Thai soil and Cambodia’s role was to cooperate in the suspect’s arrest.
However, he clarified that Cambodia has not refused to investigate the matter.
Sokhak also urged the public to approach the issue with caution, calling it a sensitive topic. He warned that sharing the Cambodian suspect’s picture on social media could violate privacy rights without sufficient evidence and might even help the suspect evade capture.