The Bangkok Criminal Court recently delivered a life sentence to a Thai man convicted of the assassination of a Cambodian opposition politician. This high-profile shooting, which occurred in the capital, was widely perceived as a politically motivated crime, though the full extent of the suspect’s motives was never completely revealed during the proceedings.
Lim Kimya, a former legislator affiliated with the now-disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party, was tragically gunned down in broad daylight. The incident took place near Bangkok’s bustling Khaosan Road, a popular area among tourists.
The individual identified as the gunman, Ekkalak Pheanoi, fled the scene immediately after the shooting, crossing the border into Cambodia. Following his arrest and deportation from Cambodia, authorities reported that Pheanoi confessed to the crime. He admitted to being hired to carry out the assassination; however, the trial concluded without fully exposing who orchestrated the killing or the ultimate responsibility behind it.
Although the Bangkok Criminal Court initially imposed a death sentence for the murder, it was swiftly commuted to life imprisonment. This reduction was granted due to Pheanoi’s confession and his cooperation with the authorities throughout the investigation.
Human rights advocates have highlighted this killing as part of a disturbing pattern, noting a series of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances targeting dissidents in exile across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam in recent years.
Prior to his death, Lim Kimya had actively posted critical messages regarding Cambodia’s government on his Facebook page.
Security camera footage from the crime scene captured the gunman arriving on a motorbike. The video then shows three gunshots being fired, followed by the victim collapsing, and the assailant, whose face was uncovered, making his escape on the motorbike.
In the months subsequent to the assassination, Thai police issued arrest warrants for two Cambodian men. One is suspected of hiring Ekkalak Pheanoi, while the other is believed to have assisted in identifying Lim Kimya to the shooter. Both individuals are thought to have fled to Cambodia and continue to evade capture.
Ekkalak Pheanoi was found guilty on all charges, including premeditated murder and various offenses related to carrying and using illegal weapons. The court also ordered him to pay the victim’s family in total of 1.7 million baht (approximately $55,100 USD) in compensation.
Lawyer Nadthasiri Bergman, representing Lim Kimya’s widow, indicated that her client might pursue an appeal for a higher compensation amount. She also urged police to intensify efforts to bring the two other suspects to justice.
Cambodia, under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who governed for nearly four decades, faced widespread criticism for its human rights record, particularly concerning the suppression of free speech and the persecution of political opponents. Although Hun Sen was succeeded by his son, Hun Manet, in August 2023, there have been minimal signs of significant political liberalization since the transition.
Concurrently, the court acquitted another Thai man, Chakrit Buakhli, who was tried in connection with the case. Buakhli had been accused of aiding Ekkalak by driving him to the Cambodian border after the shooting. However, the court ruled that he was merely a hired driver and had no direct involvement in the assassination itself.