Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have arrested a Thai fugitive, Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as 'Sia Paeng Nanod,' in Bali.

Inspector General Krishna Murti, Head of the International Relations Division of Polri, confirmed the arrest in Jakarta on Friday.

"The number one fugitive from Thailand has been captured by Polri in Bali. He was wanted by the Thai authorities," Krishna said. Chaowalit had been on the run for the past seven months.

According to the Bangkok Post, Chaowalit, 37, escaped from a hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat last October and was later involved in a shootout with police.

Using a fake Indonesian passport, Chaowalit moved around the country, pretending to be mute because he couldn't speak the local language. He mostly stayed in Medan and Bali.

Chaowalit was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for attempted murder and faced other charges, including murder and firearms possession.

The conviction was for a shooting at a restaurant in the Muang district of Phatthalung on September 9, 2019. He and four others were charged with trying to murder a court assistant, and all received life sentences.

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