On January 8, police arrested Ekkalak Paenoi, also known as "M Kongruea," the suspect in the murder of Lim Kimya, a Cambodian activist and former opposition MP. Lim was shot and killed on a median near Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok on January 7 while traveling with his French wife. Ekkalak, a former police officer dismissed in 2023, abandoned a Honda Wave 125 motorcycle in Bangkok before fleeing towards Sa Kaeo.
Ekkalak was apprehended in Battambang, Cambodia, at 7:10 PM on January 8. Investigators revealed that Ekkalak exchanged 4,000 THB at a border currency exchange shop before taking a bus into Cambodia. Cambodian authorities, collaborating with Thai police, tracked the suspect to Prey Svay Commune, Mong Russey District, Battambang Province. He was arrested at 4:30 PM while eating at a local restaurant.
The suspect was transferred to the Battambang Provincial Police headquarters and later taken to the Internal Security Command in Phnom Penh for further interrogation.