Luxury Car Driver Arrested With Illegal Gun

December 19, 2013

Police and police volunteers stopped a Thai male at a police check point in south Pattaya who was driving a luxury car. Upon searching the car they found an illegal pistol and bullets. The driver claimed that the car and gun belonged to his boss who works at the Department of Highways.

PATTAYA – December 19, 2013 [PDN]; at 3.00 a.m. Pol. Capt. Nopphadol Raksawong (Deputy Inspector of Pattaya city police station, Chonburi province) together with the police team and some volunteer police set up a checkpoint to search motorbikes and cars for weapons and drugs. Also drug tests were carried out on teenagers on Soi 17 Pattaya, Eden curve. The officers detained 7 people who failed drug tests 6 men and 1 woman and they also arrested Mr. Saranyaphong Khongthon, aged 24, address 145 Moo 8 Tambon Narm Chon, Amphur Lomsak, Phetchabun province with a revolver (pistol) size .32 and 6 bullets.

The police found a suspicious blue Mini Cooper car, license number 1 KOR NGOR-609 Bangkok drove passed the checkpoint so the officers called the driver to stop for an inspection. The driver Mr. Saranphong stopped and the police searched the car and found a pistol and ammunition so the officers detained Mr. Saranphong (the car driver) for further investigation.

From investigating Mr. Saranphong, he claimed that the car belonged to his boss who works at the Department of Highways and he went to buy instant noodle in order to eat with his girlfriend. He also said that the gun was his boss’s and didn’t know that it was inside the car. After initial investigation the police didn’t believe Mr. Saranphong and the officers also found that the gun license was expired so they charged Mr. Saranphong with the allegation of taking a gun without permission from the registrar, taking or bringing it to a public place without reasonable cause. He was then detained with the exhibits and was sent to the investigation officer in order to prosecuted further according to the Thai law.