Bangkok, Thailand — A Thai court on Friday sentenced Ekkalak Paenoi, a 41-year-old former Thai marine, to life imprisonment for the assassination of Cambodian opposition figure Lim Kimya, in an incident that raised suspicions of political motive and cross-border intrigue.
The Killing & Arrest
Lim Kimya, 74, a dual Cambodian-French citizen and former member of Cambodia’s opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was shot dead in Bangkok on 7 January 2025. He had just arrived in Thailand with his wife and brother when gunfire struck near the tourist district near Khaosan Road.
Ekkalak Paenoi was arrested shortly afterward in Cambodia, handed over to Thai authorities, and eventually stood trial in Bangkok for premeditated murder, weapons offences, and related charges. During court proceedings, he confessed to carrying out the killing, which led to a reduction in his sentence.
Verdict & Sentence
Initially, the Bangkok Criminal Court handed Ekkalak a death sentence for the murder and weapons charges. However, because he confessed and cooperated with investigators, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay approximately 1.7–1.8 million baht in compensation to Lim Kimya’s family.
A second Thai national, Chakrit Buakhli, who was accused of being an accomplice (reportedly driving Ekkalak after the shooting), was acquitted due to lack of evidence that he knew of the crime.
Two Cambodian nationals — Ly Ratanaksmey and Pich Kimsrin — remain fugitives. Arrest warrants have been issued for them, and investigations continue into whether they played roles in planning or facilitating the assassination.
Political & Regional Implications
The high-profile killing and subsequent trial have stoked international scrutiny over cross-border attacks on exiled dissidents and opposition figures in Southeast Asia. Observers note that Lim’s murder fits into a troubling pattern of politically motivated violence targeting critics in the region.
Lim was a longtime critic of Cambodia’s ruling party and had maintained outspoken views even after his party, the CNRP, was dissolved and many of its leaders forced into exile. His killing in a foreign land signalled a bold act against a dissident voice.
The trial, however, did not identify who ordered the hit. Prosecutors and police have not formally named masterminds beyond Ekkalak, leaving open serious questions about deeper political involvement or influence.
The family and legal representatives of Lim Kimya have welcomed the verdict as a measure of justice, but they emphasised that the sentence is only a step—and urged authorities to continue efforts to bring those still at large to account.
