Former Thai MP Confesses on YouTube After Killing Ex-Police Officer

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:53:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A former Thai parliament member admitted to shooting a local official and livestreaming the confession, prompting calls for stricter gun control.

On the outskirts of Bangkok, former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Riewrang allegedly shot and killed ex-police officer Thongchai Yenprasert. After the incident, Chalong called a political pundit on a YouTube livestream to confess his deed. He was subsequently arrested and given a press conference at a police station where he explained the events in detail. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the handling of Chalong as shocking and vowed to pursue full legal action. The shooting has reignited debates over gun ownership and regulation in Thailand.

Former Thai MP Confesses on YouTube After Killing Ex-Police Officer

A former member of Thailand’s Parliament, Chalong Riewrang, has claimed responsibility for the shooting death of Thongchai Yenprasert, a retired police officer who served as the president of Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization. According to Riewrang, the fatal encounter happened on the northern outskirts of Bangkok when Yenprasert was shot in the neck and died in hospital; Yenprasert’s driver was also wounded.

After the incident, Riewrang made a 1‑minute call to political commentator Anchalee Paireerak via a livestreamed YouTube programme. In the call, he admitted that he had shot Yenprasert and explained that the event was a result of a personal dispute. Viewers could not hear the full conversation, but the footage showed Paireerak reacting with shock.

Police officials arrested the former MP but subsequently allowed him to hold a press conference at a police station. Riewrang, who was smoking a cigarette during the briefing, spoke for over six minutes to explain his actions and apologized to the victim’s family. The police said they had granted the request in an attempt to give the ex‑lawmaker a chance to acknowledge his mistake, though the event was widely criticised for its perceived leniency.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the treatment of Riewrang as “shocking” and urged that “full legal action” be taken against him. He emphasised that the former MP “is now a murderer” and that powerful individuals cannot escape accountability.

The shooting comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over Thailand’s gun regulations. In March, a 14‑year‑old boy’s mass shooting, which claimed eight lives and led to his suicide, spurred the government to announce tighter enforcement of firearm laws, including new checkpoints and stricter controls on ownership and use of weapons. The incident with Riewrang has further heated debate on how to curb gun violence in a country that boasts one of the highest rates of firearm possession in Southeast Asia.