Indonesian drug lord Fredy Pratama has been reported to be currently hiding in the forests of Thailand. - Bernama Photo
JAKARTA (Bernama): The Indonesian National Police (Polri) are seeking cooperation from Thai authorities to capture drug lord Fredy Pratama, who is currently hiding in the forests of Thailand.
The request follows the recent capture of Chaowalit Thongduang, a Thai fugitive apprehended in Badung, Bali, last Thursday, according to a statement from Polri on Sunday.
Narcotics division head Brigadier General Mukhti Juharsa stated their plan to propose a trade-off, offering Chaowalit in exchange for capturing Fredy, who is currently on Indonesia’s Wanted List.
He emphasised the significance of this exchange, citing Fredy’s status as a major drug lord, and stated: "There’s a favour, there’s a return; we ask Thailand to also capture Fredy.”
Chaowalit’s extradition to Thailand is scheduled for Tuesday, he added.
Criminal investigation agency head Commissioner Wahyu Widada said the capture of Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng Nanod, has been positively received by both the Thai government and its police.
He explained that Chaowalit crossed into Indonesia from Thailand using a speedboat on Dec 8, 2023, completing the journey in about 17 hours.
While in Indonesia, Chaowalit used a fake identity as an Indonesian citizen from East Aceh named Sulaiman, assisted by a local resident who was being pursued.
He visited Medan and stayed at several hotels and apartments before being arrested in Bali while on vacation.
Chaowalit, aged 37, was convicted for the attempted murder of a police officer and involvement in a series of kidnapping attempts in Phatthalung province, Thailand, in September 2019.
Following his sentencing to 20 years and six months in prison by the Phatthalung Court in January 2022, he was transferred to a prison in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Aug 7, 2023.
On Oct 20, 2023, Chaowalit was taken to Maharat Hospital by prison guards for dental treatment, but the examination was postponed by the doctor.
Chaowalit fell as he was being returned to prison, and despite receiving treatment on the hospital’s sixth floor with his legs shackled to the bed under the supervision of two prison guards, he was reported missing two days later.
Efforts to locate him involve the deployment of police and military personnel, with the Prison Director General offering a reward of 100,000 Baht (about US$2,712) for information leading to his whereabouts. - Bernama
