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Thursday November 6, 2008

Slain anti-piracy crusader to be cremated in Sg Golok


KOTA BARU: Kasim Cha Tong @ Kasim Ratanawongse, a renowned anti-piracy campaigner recently gunned down in cold blood, will be cremated at the Wat Tong Dee Pracham temple in Sungai Golok tomorrow.

Friends here said the majority of his clan family members resided in southern Thailand.

Out of respect, the deceased, a Malaysian lawyer of Thai descent, would be cremated on the Thai border side.

Sungai Golok OCPD Lt-Col Phamong Sall clarified that Kasim was gunned down in a restaurant near his shophouse home on Monday evening at around 11.30pm Thai time.

An earlier report stated that Kasim was gunned down by two assassins at his home in the Thai border town of Sungai Golok.

Lt-Col Phamong said one round was fired but 10 bullet pellets were lodged into Kasim’s chest, killing the 56-year-old instantly.

He was having dinner with a lady friend and some acquaintances when the shooting occurred in the full view of other diners.

Lt-Col Phamong said initial investigations did not link Kasim to subversive militant activity.

“We are focusing our investigations on jealousy and personal issues. We are also probing if there was any business rivalry involved since his relatives are said to be prominent traders,” said Lt-Col Phamong.

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