Indonesia arrests ‘most wanted’ Thai fugitive

JAKARTA: Indonesian police have arrested one of Thailand´s “most wanted” fugitives who was on the run after escaping custody in Thailand last year, a senior police official said on Sunday.

Chaowalit Thongduang, 37, was arrested in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Thursday, said Wahyu Widada, the head of Indonesia´s criminal investigation agency.

“The fugitive who was secured is one of the most wanted fugitives by Thailand authorities because (he) had committed many crimes before eventually fleeing to Indonesia to hide,” Wahyu said.

Chaowalit, also known by the moniker “Pang Na Node”, was wanted on multiple charges including murder and drug-related offenses, according to Phanurat Lukboon, secretary general of Thailand´s narcotics control board. He entered Indonesia in December 2023 after a 17-hour journey by a speed boat, Wahyu said.