Bangkok, Thailand — Thai police, in cooperation with Cambodian authorities, have arrested the main suspect in the assassination of Lim Kimya, a 74-year-old Cambodian political activist and former opposition MP. The suspect, Ekkalak Paenoi, known as Sergeant M, was apprehended on January 8 in Cambodia, just one day after the shooting incident in Bangkok.
The tragic event took place on the evening of January 7, at a road median opposite the Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok’s historic district. Mr. Lim Kimya was shot three times, leading to his death. The police quickly identified Ekkalak Paenoi, a former member of the Thai Navy, as the suspected contract killer.
Sergeant M’s background reveals a troubled history with the Thai Navy. He had been disciplined on two occasions in 2021 and 2022 and was eventually dismissed in 2023 after being charged with absence without leave. After leaving the military, Paenoi worked as a motorcycle taxi driver and ran errands for local vendors.
Following the assassination, Ekkalak Paenoi fled to Cambodia through Sa Kaeo province. Police were able to track his movements through CCTV footage, showing him at the Khao Din Permanent Border Crossing Point in Khlong Hat district on the night of January 7. He was seen leaving a pickup truck and exchanging 4,000 baht at a border currency exchange shop before boarding a bus bound for Cambodia.
His whereabouts were tracked to Prey Svay commune, Moung Ruessei district, Battambang province, where he stopped for a meal. Authorities in both Thailand and Cambodia worked together to apprehend the suspect, who was transferred to the Internal Security Command Headquarters in Phnom Penh for further investigation.
In addition to Paenoi, Thai authorities have identified a second suspect — a heavyset Cambodian man who arrived in Bangkok on the same bus as Lim Kimya. This man fled back to Cambodia immediately after the assassination. Police are working to apprehend this second suspect and any other individuals linked to the case.
The investigation has also led to the discovery of an abandoned motorcycle at a PT gas station in the Suan Luang district, along with personal items, which are being examined by forensic investigators.
While the exact motive for the assassination is still under investigation, police Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, stated that the perpetrators appear to have worked as a team. Authorities have gathered testimony from several witnesses, including Mr. Lim’s wife, and are continuing to investigate any potential political motivations related to Cambodian internal politics.
The arrest of Ekkalak Paenoi marks a significant development in the case, though authorities remain vigilant as they work to track down the remaining suspects. The investigation is ongoing, with more information expected in the coming weeks.
