Phuket police arrest fugitive wanted in 2006 wife murder case
A fugitive wanted under a 2006 murder warrant was arrested in Phuket Town after nearly two decades on the run, police said.
Police in Phuket have arrested a 65-year-old fugitive who had evaded capture for nearly 20 years in a wife murder case, according to the Crime Suppression Division.
Officers arrested Mr. Sawai on Sri Suthat Road in Phuket Town after tracing his movements across several provinces. He was wanted under a 2006 warrant issued by the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court on charges including murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying a weapon in public without authorization.
Authorities said the case involved the fatal shooting of his wife. According to his confession, the killing was driven by jealousy and suspicion that she was involved with another man. During an argument, he fired two shots from a .22 caliber pistol, killing her at the scene before fleeing.
Investigators said that after the shooting, he sold the gun to a motorcycle taxi driver in Bangkok for 4,000 baht and used the money to support his escape. He then changed his name and moved repeatedly, working as a welder in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Si Thammarat and later Phuket, while cutting off contact with his family to avoid detection.
Police said the warrant was due to expire under the statute of limitations in September 2026. As that deadline approached, Crime Suppression Division officers intensified the search and gathered evidence that confirmed his presence in Phuket, leading to his arrest.
Mr. Sawai has confessed to all charges and remains in custody awaiting prosecution, authorities said.
