Chanchai Chanasongkhram, 29, and two other men involved in the incident, Kwan Hemarat, 26, Lan Phothong, 33, were facing charges including attempted murder of an on-duty policeman.

The three men had a long “rap sheet” of criminal offences including drug trafficking and motorcycle theft, police said yesterday.

Police investigators found that Special Chief Petty Officer Thanuwong Sutham, 40, and a colleague tried to stop Lan, who was also on a motorcycle, for an inspection.

Lan, who allegedly had taken a yaba pill, dumped his motorcycle and fled on foot to a friend’s motorcycle.

Kwan and Chanchai, travelling on another motorcycle, saw the incident and Chanchai shoot at Thanuwong four times, resulting in the policeman sustaining two gunshots wounds to the leg.

Chanchai confessed yesterday that he shot at the officers because he was trying to help his friend escape.

He said he didn’t know they were policemen and assumed they were rivals. There was no intent to kill Thanuwong, he claimed.