The question of whether the suspect, 27-year-old Natchipong Laokham, was at large after he surrendered to police was raised by concerned local residents, fearing that he might return to the bar to inflict further harm.
Phuket Provincial Police have charged Natchipong with multiple offenses, including murder, illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a weapon in public without just cause, and discharging a firearm in a public area without justification, Maj Gen Sinlert explained.
A clerk at Phuket Provincial Court, who asked not to be named, told The Phuket News that Natchipong is still being held in the detention cells at the court.
He is very unlikely to be granted bail before his trial, Maj Gen Sinlert said. “In cases of severe and intentional killings like this, we never allow bail,” he stated.
The Phuket Provincial Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that they are still preparing the case against Natchipong.
Police submitted the case file to the Prosecutor’s Office only on Tuesday (Jan 14), a clerk at the Prosecutor’s Office told The Phuket News.
A date for Natchipong’s trial has yet to be set, the clerk confirmed.