NAKHON PHANOM, THAILAND – Thai police arrested a long‑wanted murder suspect who had been hiding for years as a monk in a remote forest monastery near the Lao border.
Years-long hunt ends in remote monastery
Authorities had been searching for Mr. Santi, 47, since 6 January 2015 under a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court on a charge of fatal bodily harm. He was suspected of severely injuring a woman named Ms. Nongyao on 30 August 2014 in a rented room in Phuket. Investigators said he allegedly locked the door from the outside before fleeing, and the victim was found dead only several days later.
Life in robes as cover
To avoid arrest, the suspect reportedly entered the monastic order and began a new life in the seclusion of a religious retreat in Nakhon Phanom. Detectives from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) continued to pursue the case and acted on a tip that led them to the forest monastery. A special unit prepared the operation with particular caution and, out of respect for his religious status, initially approached him without handcuffs as they identified themselves and presented the warrant.
Escape bid over four‑metre cliff
The man then requested permission to go to a Buddha statue on a nearby hill, saying his formal disrobing as a monk had not yet been completed. Seizing the moment, he fled and leapt off a four‑metre cliff, before attempting to escape for more than 500 metres along a mountain ridge. Officers gave chase under difficult conditions; several were injured during the hazardous pursuit but eventually caught up with him and overpowered him.
Disrobing before transfer to custody
Following the arrest, police observed the required religious procedures to remove him from the monkhood before placing him in regular custody. Mr. Santi was then taken to investigators at Patong Police Station in Phuket, where the case originated, and he was reported to have confessed during initial questioning. His 11‑year flight from justice thus came to an end.
Police hail operation as key signal
The CIB described the operation as a major success that carried a clear message.
“We never abandon the pursuit of fugitive offenders, no matter how long it takes.”
said the CIB.
The injured officers were receiving medical treatment, and formal criminal proceedings were being initiated against the suspect. For the victim’s family, the arrest marked a late but crucial step toward justice after more than a decade of waiting.