A 1 million baht reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a convicted criminal who escaped custody in southern Thailand. The authorities have been hunting for Chavalit Thongduang after he fled a Nakhon Si Thammarat hospital where he was receiving some dental treatments.
Chavalit was serving a prison sentence for robbery and the possession of illegal firearms. He is considered armed and dangerous with officers involved in the search advised to exercise caution. However, with no sign so far since his escape over a week ago, the Department of Corrections has increased the reward on offer from 100,000 baht to 1,000,000 baht.
Following the fugitive’s escape, the chief of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Prison and 3 prison officers have been transferred to the Department of Corrections.
The department has also issued a statement to say an investigation into the four officers and whether or not the prisoner had help making his escape will conclude at the end of this month.
An anonymous source in the Corrections department has previously told the media that Chavalit received “VIP treatment” in prison as a result of his alleged close connection to an unnamed national politician.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
