Pubdate: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 Source: Chiangmai Mail (Thailand) Copyright: 2005 Chiangmai Mail Contact: http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3105 Author: Saksit Meesubkwang DRUG DEALER SHOT DEAD AND POLICEMAN INJURED IN CHASE A drug dealer was shot dead and a police officer wounded when narcotics control officers pursued two ya ba dealers from Mae Ai into the city area. The incident happened on the night of December 11, at Baan San Pa Khoi Nue, in Muang, Chiang Mai. Pol Lt Gen Panupong Singhara na Ayuthaya, commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 and Pol Maj Gen Jiruj Promobol, Chiang Mai Provincial Police commander, rushed to the scene with a squadron of officers and the duty doctor of Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. A pick-up with a Chiang Mai license plate was found. Inside the vehicle were 100,000 ya ba pills. A dead body lay beside the truck, and was identified as Suchat Satumayer, 22, an Akha hill tribesman. He had been shot by a 9 mm revolver. A narcotics officer from Provincial Police Bureau Region 5, Pol Sgt Maj Jakarin Chairangsri, had been struck by a bullet in his left hand. He was admitted to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital and was later released. Narcotics control officers headed by Pol Col Panudet Bunruang, superintendent of Chai Prakan Police Station, had followed the two offenders from Mae Ai to the city, where the officers caught up with them. One of the two, identified as Wichai Asa, had fled into a grove but the other was shot dead. Police commissioner Panupong said that Wichai Asa was the head drug dealer, importing ya ba from across the border for distribution to clients in Thailand. Police are now in pursuit of Wichai. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin