Chana Songkhram police have sought a warrant from the Thai Criminal Court for the arrest of a Cambodian national, who is believed to have been a spotter, helping the Thai gunman in the assassination of former Cambodian opposition MP Lim Kimya in front of a temple in Bangkok on Tuesday night.
According to the Thai police, the suspect has been identified as Kim Salinpit, who claimed to be a journalist and was among about 20 Cambodians, including Lim, travelling on the same bus from Cambodia, through the Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district and arriving in front of Bowonniwet Temple in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Kim was seen in CCTV footage wearing white shirt, hat and carrying a backpack near the location where Lim Kimya was later shot dead, allegedly by former Thai marine Ekaluck Paenoi, who was arrested last night in the Cambodian town of Battambang.
Thai police say that Kim returned to Cambodia after the shooting.
After his arrest, the alleged gunman was escorted by Cambodian police to the Internal Security Command in Phnom Penh for questioning. He is expected to be extradited to Thailand to face charges.
Ekaluck has previously served time in prison for serious offences. He was dismissed from military service for failing to report to work more than 15 days in a row.
