A Kazakh national has been arrested over the broad daylight shooting of a Russian bar owner in Thailand.

Artur Legay, 49, had allegedly shot and severely injured Russian businessman Dmitry Aleynikov, 44, in front of the Cafe Waya in Phuket on June 7.

The Russian was rushed to the Thalang Hospital for three gunshot wounds, while Artur was caught on CCTV fleeing on a motorcycle to dispose of his handgun and clothes.

The shooter was arrested by immigration police today at the Phuket International Airport where he was allegedly trying to leave the country.

Authorities said Artur had been staying at a hotel in Choeng Thale town since May 21. He had also rented a motorcycle, but had failed to pay for the last two days.

Hotel employee Dao said staff found the Kazakh man suspicious as he had been staying for weeks in the room without any luggage, before leaving behind a muddy motorcycle on the day of the shooting.

Police Major General Saksira Phuek-am, deputy chief of the Provincial Police Region 8 office, said that they were able to trace the suspect's escape route on Wednesday.

They discovered abandoned clothing items, including a raincoat, sunglasses, gloves and a mask at a pond around one kilometre away from Cafe Waya. On the muddy banks, several footprints believed to belong to the suspect were imprinted.

A police team had waded through the chest-deep water, using metal detectors to search the missing gun, but failed to find it before nightfall.

Officials later tracked down the suspect's mud-caked Yamaha NMAX motorcycle at the resort hotel. They were comparing mud samples from the motorbike and the pond as evidence. They also collected DNA samples from the gunman today.

Police chief Saksira said: 'We wanted to solve the case as soon as possible because of the brazenness of the crime, and because two foreign nationals were involved.'

Dmitry has been transferred to the Vachira Phuket Hospital while the suspect Artur is being held in police custody.

Police have not yet disclosed a motive for the shooting. They declined to give further details as the investigation continues.