BANGKOK, THAILAND – A high-profile criminal case ended with a death sentence for a local politician from Songkhla and seven of his associates over the revenge killing of a prominent underworld figure.
Politician convicted as mastermind of killing
According to the court, 43-year-old Korarak Korergkhanin was identified as the driving force behind the crime. He had served as secretary to the mayor of the Padang Besar municipality in Songkhla, while in the province he was regarded as a feared mafia boss. The victim, 54-year-old Prasan Khongnoon, was described as a close associate of well-known crime boss Chavalit Thongduang.
Daylight attack in Phatthalung
The murder took place in broad daylight on 25 February 2024 on a road in the village of Saithungna in Phatthalung province. Prasan was gunned down by armed attackers on the street. Police carried out raids at 15 locations in Phatthalung and Songkhla in May 2024, arresting the politician and his seven alleged accomplices.
Revenge as alleged motive
Prosecutors stated that revenge was the motive behind the killing. The victim had previously led a group that demanded repayment of a debt owed by Korarak, an act that humiliated the local political boss. Investigators said this prompted him to plan what was described as final and lethal retaliation.
Maximum penalty and message from the court
After reviewing all the evidence, the criminal court found all eight defendants guilty and imposed the maximum penalty, the death sentence. The ruling was presented as a clear signal in the fight against the entanglement of local politics and organised crime in Thailand.
“The law applies to everyone, regardless of their status or their connections.”
said the judiciary.
Victim’s role in the underworld
Prasan was not portrayed as an outsider to crime; as a close confidant of Chavalit Thongduang, he moved within dangerous circles of the Thai underworld. His violent death was described as another piece in ongoing power struggles that usually remained hidden. In this case, however, the violence extended openly into local politics, with fatal consequences for all involved.
Symbolic impact of the death sentences
Experts cited in the case viewed the harsh ruling as an important step demonstrating that even influential figures are not above the law. The death penalty was imposed but was noted as rarely carried out in Thailand, where such sentences were usually commuted to life imprisonment. Nonetheless, the symbolic power of the verdict was seen as significant, intended to deter and to underline that murderous violence, regardless of who orders it, would not be tolerated.
Test case for corruption and local power
Observers linked the case to broader problems of corruption and criminal infiltration at the local level. With this verdict, the judiciary was seen as drawing a clear line, while Thai society now watched to see whether the strong signal would have a lasting effect. For the victim’s relatives, the ruling was portrayed as a form of justice, and for Thailand it was framed as a test in the ongoing struggle against crime within its own political ranks.