A Thai court sentenced a former marine to life in prison for murdering a Cambodian ex-MP in Bangkok, following his arrest shortly after the killing.

The suspect, 41 year old Ekkalak Paenoi, was convicted of premeditated murder for the cold-blooded shooting of 74 year old Lim Kimya, a dual Cambodian-French citizen and former member of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The killing took place in Bangkok’s historic quarter, just hours after Lim arrived in the city with his wife and brother.

“The court ruled he was guilty of premeditated murder and firearms offences. He was ordered to pay 1.79 million baht in compensation to the family.”

Lim, a vocal opposition figure in Cambodia, had long been under political pressure. His party, the CNRP, was dissolved ahead of the 2018 general election in a move widely condemned as undemocratic.

Ekkalak fled to neighbouring Cambodia shortly after the killing but was arrested the following day and extradited to Thailand.

The court, however, acquitted a second Thai defendant accused of helping the gunman flee the scene by driving him to the border, citing lack of evidence that he did not know of the crime.