Thai Man Confesses to Killing Opposition Lawmaker

Ekkalak Paenoi, a Thai man, confessed to the murder of former Cambodian opposition lawmaker Lim Kimya, stating he committed the act as a way to repay a benefactor who had supported him during a difficult time after his dismissal from the navy. Lim was shot by a motorcyclist upon arriving in Bangkok from Cambodia, prompting accusations from Cambodian opposition figures that the assassination was ordered by former Prime Minister Hun Sen, which the government denies. Ekkalak, arrested in Cambodia and extradited to Thailand, claimed he was hired for 60,000 baht but insisted he had not received payment. Police have issued an arrest warrant for a Cambodian accomplice, and Ekkalak will face a court hearing for pre-trial detention. Many Cambodian activists have sought refuge in Thailand due to repression at home, with Hun Sen having ruled Cambodia for nearly 40 years, now succeeded by his son Hun Manet. Investigations continue into the identity of the benefactor who allegedly hired Ekkalak, as police explore deeper connections behind the assassination.