Thai police have arrested a fugitive politician whodisappeared eight years ago after being convicted of hiring a gunman to kill arival.
Police Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphan said today that 75-year-oldSomchai Khunpleum was arrested in a car while traveling out of Bangkok to hishometown of Chonburi in eastern Thailand.
Somchai is the father of current Culture Minister SonthayaKhunpleum.
The Supreme Court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment in2004 for conspiring in the murder of a political opponent.
He also received a 5-year jail term for a corruption case.
Somchai was released on bail in 2005 and reportedly fled thecountry.
Police said a commando squad today had followed him to aBangkok hospital where he had a medical appointment under a fake name.