Police have arrested three more men, bringing the total number of suspects to eight in connection with the assault and fatal shooting of a taxi driver on Samui Island on May 24.
Four other suspects are still on the run, two of whom are believed to have been directly involved in the murder of the taxi driver, identified only as Sicharin.
Three suspects already in custody — Natthawat, Sarawut and Chalermwut — claimed they were not involved in the assault on Sicharin, but were merely present when the victim was attacked and fled after gunshots were fired.
Police currently believe the incident may have stemmed from a personal dispute between the victim and the assailants or from a business conflict over taxi parking areas.
The victim’s family has filed a complaint with Surat Thani provincial police, saying they do not trust local police on Samui Island to handle the case impartially because of the influence allegedly wielded by the suspects, most of whom are reportedly unlicensed taxi drivers.
