Death sentences for four men are reduced to life imprisonment over a Pattani terror attack that killed Nawi Pramon and seriously injured three EOD officers. The three-bomb operation struck during Ramadan and was later linked with PULO, a Pattani militant group.
Four men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for a deadly three-bomb terrorist operation in Pattani that killed fisherman Nawi Pramon, 33, and seriously injured three police bomb disposal officers. The September 24 verdict came four years after the Ramadan attack, when a second bomb struck EOD officers investigating Nawi’s killing. Police also found a third device and G5 leaflets linked with PULO, a Pattani based insurgency group. Pattani Provincial Court initially sentenced the four men to death before reducing the sentences following their confessions. The ruling followed an earlier prosecution arising from the same April 2022 attack, with three defendants appearing in both cases.
Four men have been sentenced to life imprisonment over a deadly 2022 bombing operation in Pattani’s Sai Buri district. The attack killed villager Nawi Pramon, 33, and seriously injured three police bomb disposal officers.
Pattani Provincial Court initially sentenced Muelee, Sulaiman, Azming and Wae-ayu to death. However, their confessions were considered beneficial to the proceedings. Judges consequently reduced each sentence by half, leaving all four serving life imprisonment. They remain in custody pending appeal.
The September 24 judgment came more than four years after the attack. It was delivered in Black Case No. Or.106/2569. Reports withheld the four defendants’ surnames.
Prosecutors secure convictions after three bombs kill a villager and seriously injure three EOD officers
Prosecutors charged them with terrorism, criminal association and premeditated murder. In addition, they faced attempted murder charges involving government officers. The prosecution also invoked legislation targeting participation in transnational organised crime. Ultimately, the court found sufficient evidence establishing their joint involvement in the offences.
The case grew from a predawn bombing on April 15, 2022, in Moo 8, Paen subdistrict. Three improvised devices were found along a rural road between Ban Paen and Ban Lahan.
At approximately 3.10 am, Nawi travelled there with Surasak Deeboontham to fish at nearby ponds. Mr Nawi remained near a tree while his companion continued towards the fields. There, he noticed a paper bag underneath the tree and picked it up. A concealed improvised device detonated, killing him at the scene.
Police subsequently secured the location and began investigating. Several hours later, Pattani police Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists entered the area to examine the scene and collect evidence.
At approximately 9 am, a second concealed device detonated while the EOD team was working. As a result, three specialist officers suffered serious injuries.
Three EOD officers seriously injured as police find third bomb and leaflets linked with PULO militants
Pol Senior Sgt Maj Kasem Buathes, 50, suffered severe injuries to his legs. Meanwhile, Pol Senior Sgt Maj Thanongsak Jasa, 40, sustained fragmentation wounds to his face. Pol Capt Phanom Khwan-on, 50, suffered a leg injury.
Initially, the casualties were taken to Somdej Phra Yupparat Sai Buri Hospital. Afterwards, officers requiring further treatment were transferred to Songklanagarind Hospital in Hat Yai.
Despite the second bombing, EOD personnel continued searching the surrounding area. They discovered another improvised device approximately 50 metres from the original location. The specialists successfully rendered it safe.
Separately, investigators recovered leaflets carrying a tiger or lion-head emblem. They bore the Malay-language wording “DAULAT TUANKU G5 ASKAR DI-RAJA PATANI.” Notably, the material also carried the designation G5.
Later, an Internal Security Operations Command account linked the material with PULO. The organisation is formally known as the Patani United Liberation Organisation.
The timing added another dimension to the case. The bombing occurred during Ramadan and a temporary violence-reduction initiative across Thailand’s southern border provinces.
Ramadan bombing leads to two separate Pattani court cases with three defendants appearing in both
At the time, Thai peace negotiators and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, or BRN, were involved in that initiative. Nevertheless, the Sai Buri bombing occurred during the period.
Four years later, the same attack produced two separate Pattani Provincial Court cases involving partly overlapping groups of defendants.
The first judgment came on April 20, 2026, in Black Case No. Or.104/2569. Five defendants appeared: Muelee, Azming, Sulaiman, Ahmad Sukri and Masa.
That prosecution covered terrorism involving violence, criminal association, firearms and explosives offences connected with the bombing. All five defendants confessed during questioning, the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
Initially, the court imposed prison terms of 21 years. Their confessions provided mitigation, cutting those sentences to 10 years and six months.
The second judgment followed on September 24 in Black Case No. Or.106/2569. This time, Muelee, Sulaiman and Azming appeared alongside Wae-ayu.
Three defendants appear in both Pattani prosecutions as September case brings far heavier sentences
Thus, three defendants appeared in both prosecutions. By contrast, Ahmad Sukri and Masa appeared only in the April case. Wae-ayu appeared only in the later proceeding.
Crucially, the September prosecution included premeditated murder over Nawi Pramon’s death. It also covered attempted murder involving the EOD officers injured at the scene.
Furthermore, prosecutors included terrorism, criminal association and transnational organised crime offences. Those charges led to the substantially heavier sentences imposed in the second case.
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Published accounts do not explain why Muelee, Sulaiman and Azming faced two separate case files arising from the attack.
The September judgment therefore closes another major stage of proceedings stemming from the April 2022 attack. Muelee, Sulaiman, Azming and Wae-ayu now remain behind bars while their appeals proceed.
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