The suspect who shot and killed a former Cambodian parliamentarian in Bangkok was arrested

Cambodian police said suspect Ekkalak Pheanoi was arrested at 1:50 p.m. today in Battambang province, bordering Thailand. They said the suspect would be brought back to Thailand, but did not specify when.

“The shooter is a Thai citizen and former marine,” said Chhay Kim Khoeun, spokesman for the Cambodian National Police.

Ekkalak, 41, is accused of firing three shots at former Cambodian parliamentarian Lim Kimya on the afternoon of January 7 on a crowded street in Bangkok as he got off the bus. The attacker then escaped from the scene on a motorbike.

Yingyos Thepchamnong, police commander in the Thai border area, later said images recorded from surveillance cameras showed that the suspect went to Sa Kaeo province in eastern Thailand and then crossed the border into Cambodia.

Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona said Mr. Lim’s murder was a matter for the Thai government. He said the Cambodian government is often accused by “extremists” of being behind such incidents.

The Thai government has pledged to “comprehensively and thoroughly investigate” the murder of the former Cambodian parliamentarian.

Mr. Kim was a member of the opposition National Salvation Party (CNRP). The party was dissolved before the 2018 election over accusations of treasonous plots, which CNPR firmly denies. Lim Kimya and many opposition lawmakers were then banned from participating in politics.