[FMT] Ismail Ternang, a former top leader of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), was arrested in Malaysia several days ago for security offenses allegedly related to arms smuggling.Thailand's Fourth Army commander Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich confirmed Ternang's arrest. He said, "I was informed that he was arrested by the Malaysian authorities. My men have double checked (with reliable sources) on his reported arrest."
He said the former PULO leader was not wanted for any security offense, nor did he carry an arrest warrent in Thailand since his release from prison two years ago. However, security authorities had exercised normal monitoring to keep an eye on him.
According to a source, Ismail was arrested several days ago at his family-run restaurant in Perak following an investigation by Malaysian police. His arrest followed a police operation in Kedah several days ago where a man was gunned down after a brief clash.
The dead man was suspected to have been involved in arms smuggling at the Malaysian-Thai border area. The source said, "The police checked the deceased’s handphone and found Ismail’s handphone number, which led to his arrest days later."
The source also claimed Ismail had since been released by Malaysian authorities, but this has not been confirmed.