Former Thai MP allegedly kills official and confesses

A former Thai MP allegedly shot dead a local official near Bangkok, then dialled into a YouTube livestream to inform the host - a political pundit - of what he had done.



Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Reawraeng told the shocked host, Anchalee Paireerak, that he had shot Thongchai Yenprasert, a former police official, outside Thongchai's office on the northern outskirts of the capital.



Thongchai, who was hit in the neck, died in hospital.



His driver was shot in the arm and hand.



Chalong was arrested but then allowed to hold a press conference at a police station where he attempted to explain what had happened while smoking a cigarette.



Police say they granted the unusual request so that Chalong could apologise to the victim's family - but once behind the microphone he described his actions in detail for over six minutes.



He told reporters that Thongchai was "angry" at him, but did not explain why. He also said he did not intend to shoot Thongchai, whom he described as a "good friend".



Chalong said he told Thongchai that he wanted to talk to him. According to local media reports, the two were involved in a personal dispute.