Police assigned to track down and re-arrest a convict, who escaped from hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat province last weekend, have been warned to exercise caution as the escapee is armed and dangerous.

The warning was issued by Pol Lt-Gen Itthiphol Atchariyapradit, acting assistant police chief, who flew from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat this morning (Tuesday), to chair a meeting with officers handling the case.

Two women, suspected of helping the convict, Chavalit Thongduang, to escape from the hospital have are being held in police custody on charges of aiding and abetting the escape. Both suspects, only identified as “Wilawan” and “Yuwares”, have denied the charges. Police say that they are looking for two more suspects, believed to be involved in the escape plot.
An informed source in the Corrections Department said that six corrections officers had been assigned to keep watch on the convict, while he was an in-patient at Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital following dental treatment.

The six officers are now under investigation, to determine whether any of them might have been involved in the escape.

The source said that Chavalit was treated like a VIP in the prison, because of his close connection with a national politician.

Chavalit was convicted of robbery and possession of illegal firearms. He is still facing several other criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder and money laundering, with the cases still pending in court.