Indonesia will deport a fugitive wanted for murder and drug trafficking to Thailand.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — One of Thailand's most wanted fugitives will be flown home on a Thai air force plane after being arrested on the Indonesian resort island of Bali after months on the run in connection with several murders and drug trafficking charges in his native country. officials said Monday.

Chaowalit Thongduang escaped from detention in Thailand while being treated at a hospital. When he was arrested on Thursday, he was using a fake Indonesian national ID card that he had received shortly after arriving in Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh in December after a 17-year trip. hours by speedboat from India, said Wahyu Widada, head of the criminal department of the Indonesian National Police. Department of Investigation.

Chaowalit was arrested during a raid on his apartment in Badung regency in Bali. The authorities seized four cell phones from him as well as several false identity documents.

“We are still investigating local residents who helped deliver Chaowalit’s fake identity,” Widada said.

Thai Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, who traveled to Indonesia to meet Chaowalit, said he would be flown Tuesday on a military plane to Thailand, where he is wanted for the murder or attempted murder of police officers and others and drug trafficking.

Tawee said Chaowalit praised authorities for being able to find him after he fled across several countries.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said she was confident the justice system that apprehended Chaowalit could bring him to justice.

Indonesia and Thailand signed an extradition agreement in 1978.

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Associated Press writer Napat Kongsawad in Bangkok contributed to this report.