BANGKOK — A 23-year-old Myanmar national who threatened to kill his pregnant wife but instead fatally shot her elderly employer has been arrested after a three-day manhunt in Bangkok.
Sai Harn was apprehended in Soi On Nut 65, Watthana district, at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, police officials confirmed. Authorities had been tracking him since the incident occurred and had offered a 20,000 baht reward for information leading to his capture.
The court issued an arrest warrant on May 10, the same day Sai Harn allegedly killed 70-year-old Yuttharot Suwansumet, the owner of a fitness business in Bang Khae area.
According to police reports, prior to the incident, Sai Harn had called and threatened his 18-year-old pregnant wife, Ms. Pong, saying he would find her at her employer’s home.
Ms. Pong, who is five months pregnant, was reportedly terrified due to previous abuse from her husband and informed her employer about the threats. When Sai Harn arrived and climbed into the property, Yuttharot confronted him with a .38 caliber handgun, insisting that he would not allow him to see Ms. Pong. A struggle ensued over the weapon, resulting in a fatal shot to the elderly Thai man.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene with the victim’s gun in a gray-black Honda CR-V belonging to the household. Relatives only discovered what had happened more than an hour later, giving the Myanmar national time to escape.
During the investigation, Ms. Pong told media that her husband was angry because she had previously promised to help him secure employment with her employer. She works as a caretaker for Yuttharot’s elderly mother. However, she had honestly told Yuttharot about her husband’s alcohol problems and violent behavior when drunk, leading to his rejection for employment.
“I want to apologize to my employer’s family for this tragedy,” said the Myanmar woman, whose troubles are compounding as police discovered she entered Thailand illegally and will also face legal proceedings.
Police tracked the suspect through CCTV footage and were alerted when a good Samaritan reported finding the stolen vehicle abandoned on outbound Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in front of the Provincial Police Region 1 apartments in Chatuchak district. The vehicle showed signs of multiple collisions, and witnesses reported seeing the driver board a train toward Rangsit.
Following the lead, police apprehended Sai Harn and took him to Phetkasem Police Station for questioning.
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