However, authorities did not charge him with being an insurgent although the rifle had been used five times in terror attacks in Ragnae.

Abdulloh Lateh, 53, faced a charge of having illegal firearms in his possession after authorities checked his background and found that he did not have a record of being involved in insurgency activities in the deep South.

Police and rangers went to Abdulloh’s house in Moo 6 village in Tambon Marue Botok at 3am.

Initially, he would not allow the authorities to go inside his house and authorities spent 10 minutes persuading him to open his door.

Authorities found only a cartridge of ammunition for an Ak-47 rifle before they found the gun in a well in the kitchen. Authorities used a magnetic tied to a rope to recover the gun from the well.

Abdulloh said the gun belonged to his friend.