Daily News' Rayong office attacked in drive-by shooting

Police Region 2 deputy chief Pol Maj-General Kosol Puawes yesterday inspected the Daily News newspaper office in Rayong that was attacked in a drive-by shooting at 3.40am yesterday. There were no casualties.

Upon inspection, police found a wall riddled with 14 bullet holes as well as damaged furniture, air-conditioning unit and light fixtures. A Nissan pick-up truck parked outside the office was riddled with six bullet holes. The pick-up truck belongs to Krittapas Taengphetch, 49, a reporter who at the office at the time of the attack and alerted police. The office is located on Sukhumvit Road in Muang district.

Kosol said police would be speaking to five reporters to determine if the motive of the gun attack was their report about a gang of drug dealers or a personal conflict. Police investigators were at the office gathering evidence, including 16 spent AKA rifle bullets, a 9mm bullet and two 9mm spent cartridges, as well as security camera footage. Kosol declined to confirm if the attack was meant to harass journalists.

A police source revealed that security cameras had captured the image of a bronze single-cab Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck driving past the office and a passenger in the front seat rolling down the window to aim a rifle at the building.

Daily News reporters believe the attack might have resulted from their latest coverage of a major ya ba gang in Klaeng district, which is reportedly linked to Rayong Provincial Prison inmates and has allegedly used war weapons to attack another gang that failed to pay its dues. Suspects related to this attack are out on bail and might possibly be disgruntled about the report.

The Daily News Rayong bureau chief Wisut Piriyawanit, who retired two months ago, has been replaced by acting chief Patcharapol Panrak. Also working out of the office are three reporters - Krittapas, Manot Sanongsuk and Chingchai Cherdklin - as well as two office staff.

Krittapas told police that while he was resting on a makeshift bed near the door, he suddenly heard firecracker-like explosions and had the presence of mind to duck and wait for the shooting to stop before opening the back door to clear room of smoke. He later found bullet holes in the windows and alerted the police.

Khajornsak Chaisri, a noodle vendor across the road, confirmed that a pick-up truck had slowed down outside the office and the passenger had opened fire before the truck sped off in the direction of tambon Tapong.

In another case, 44-year-old newsman Wisut "Ae Phuket Inside" Thangwittayaporn, was shot dead in Phuket's Muang district on January 12 while he was accompanying his wife in a pick-up truck to pick up Children's Day gifts. Police suspect the murder might have stemmed from his investigative report on the unlawful issuing of land deeds in Kathu district. One suspect has been arrested and warrants are out for two others.