The unnamed inmate then tried to climb over the jail fence but was captured, he said, adding there were no riots and the situation had returned to normal. Prison officials are trying to find if the man had an accomplice although the inmate – who was serving a jail term for illegal entry into Thailand and attempted murder – claimed he had acted on his own to escape.

Kobkiat confirmed that the ministry would provide compensation to the family of the deceased guard, Mongkolchai Nakwan.