PATTAYA – A dramatic police operation unfolded in central Pattaya on Monday evening as authorities rescued a Thai woman who had been held captive for nearly 24 hours by her armed South Korean ex-boyfriend. The incident, which triggered a tense manhunt, ended with the suspect’s arrest late Monday night.

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Pattaya City Police Superintendent Colonel Anek Sathongyu led the response team to a nail salon on Pattaya Central Road after receiving reports of a foreign national threatening a woman with a firearm. Witnesses alerted authorities that the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old South Korean national Mr. D.K., had barricaded himself inside the establishment with his ex-girlfriend, 28-year-old salon owner Ms. Ann.

Police surrounded the building shortly after 7:00 PM, but the armed suspect escaped through a second-floor balcony during the initial confrontation. Officers proceeded with caution, warning nearby residents to take shelter as the fugitive remained at large with a handgun. Ms. Ann was successfully extracted from the scene, showing visible signs of physical injury and severe distress.

In her statement to investigators, the victim revealed that her ex-boyfriend had confiscated her phone and held her against her will since Sunday night. The situation escalated when Mr. K. brandished what is believed to be a Sig Sauer P320 pistol, threatening her over her new relationship with a Chinese national.

The breakthrough came when Ms. Ann managed to regain possession of her phone around 7:00 PM and discreetly texted a friend, who immediately notified authorities. Following coordinated search efforts, police apprehended the suspect at 11:00 PM near a convenience store approximately 500 meters from the crime scene.

A subsequent search of the premises yielded the suspected firearm – a loaded Sig Sauer P320 with 15 rounds in the magazine. Forensic teams are now working to determine the weapon’s origins, as initial investigations suggest it may have been obtained illegally.

Police Colonel Anek confirmed that the suspect remains in custody facing multiple charges, including illegal detention, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Authorities are investigating possible accomplices and plan to pursue full legal action.

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The case has drawn attention to the prevalence of violence in relationship disputes involving foreign nationals in Thailand’s tourist hotspots. Local officials emphasized that such incidents are treated with utmost seriousness, regardless of the perpetrator’s nationality.

-Thailand News (TN)