SURAT THANI (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The owner of a durian orchard in Thailand's Muang district surrendered to police after allegedly shooting a man dead.

He had suspected the man of stealing his fruit on Thursday morning (July 26).

Sukhon Sutthirak, 56, faces a murder charge after being arrested by police inside his durian orchard in Tambon Kradae.

The suspected thief has yet to be identified. He was shot once in the forehead with a revolver.

Sukhon told police that many of his durians had been stolen from the trees over a period of several days.

He said he heard the sound of a durian hitting the ground so he ran out to check and saw two men running away while another man remained up the tree.

Sukhon said he shouted at the man to get down but the man shouted back that he had a gun. He added that the man appeared to be reaching for his weapon in the pocket of his shorts so he fired once at him and ran.

When the shot was discovered to be fatal, he told his wife to call the police.