Transgender fugitive hiding in meditation center caught after two years of pursuit

A fugitive for two years, a transgender woman, was finally apprehended by police after a long period of evading law enforcement. The person was wanted take away a gold necklace from a noodle seller at an opportune time and had been hiding in a monastery ever since. The arrest also revealed an existing arrest warrant on drug-related charges.

Today, April 21, Thai law enforcement officials successfully concluded a lengthy manhunt with the arrest of 29-year-old Amorthep Ata, a cunning thief who had been on the run for more than two years. Amorthep was wanted in the Srisaket Provincial Court for theft of a vehicle to facilitate escape and avoid arrest. The arrest took place at a monastery in Nong Sarai subdistrict, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, and marked the end of a fugitive’s long evasion of justice.

The incident that led to Amorthep’s arrest took place on April 29, 2022, when he rode a green Honda Wave motorcycle borrowed from his sister to a noodle shop in Ban Ngieng village. While pretending to buy noodles, Amornthep noticed that the seller was wearing a gold chain that weighed about one baht (a traditional Thai unit of weight). Seizing a moment of distraction, he grabbed the chain and fled the scene on the motorcycle.

During the investigation, Amorthep confessed to the theft of the noodle seller’s gold chain. A background check revealed a previous arrest warrant from the Pathumwan District Court, dated October 19, 2020, for drug use. After his confession, Amorthep was taken to Uthumphon Phisai police station for further legal proceedings, KhaoSod reported.

Teeradech Thamsuthee, an officer involved in the operation, stressed the importance of not misusing religious institutions to conceal criminal activities. He stated that those who commit crimes and then take refuge in monasteries, feigning righteousness, cannot escape their karma. He urged individuals not to use temples or meditation centers as a refuge to cleanse their sins, but instead contribute positively to the faith and trust of the community.

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