THAI police have confirmed that the fatal shooting of a Malaysian man in the border town of Sungai Golok earlier this month was not connected to drug-related debts, but rather to a quarrel over an unpaid business loan.
Narathiwat provincial police chief, Major General Prayong Kotsakha, said investigations revealed that the killing was sparked by a dispute involving a clothing business debt owed by the victim to the suspect, a former Kelantan footballer.
“The 33-year-old victim, from Pasir Mas, was believed to have been killed after failing to settle thousands of ringgit owed to the suspect,” Prayong said. “According to our investigation, the 31-year-old suspect admitted that he and the victim had several arguments about the matter. Their disagreements began last year but were previously resolved through friends and family.”
He said a third altercation occurred earlier this month, during which the suspect confessed to shooting the victim several times after the latter again refused to pay his debt.
“Based on our findings so far, Thai police have ruled out any link between the murder and drugs. However, further investigations are ongoing, and the suspect is currently being held in Narathiwat prison,” Prayong added.
The victim, identified as Mohd Fuad Fahmie Ghazali, 33, reportedly sustained multiple gunshot wounds during an argument around 6.40 pm on 1 November. He was rushed to Sungai Golok Hospital but was pronounced dead later that night.
His pregnant wife told local media that her husband had been shot 18 times, citing hospital findings, and that two armed men had approached them before opening fire until their ammunition was spent and fleeing the scene.
Thai police subsequently detained a 31-year-old man who surrendered himself at a police station on 2 November. Two pistols were seized from the suspect. November 12, 2025
