Detained medic linked to court bomb

Detained medic linked to court bomb

Disappeared in broad daylight, a key witness to the 2010 Wat Pathum Wanaram killings, Nattatida Meewangpla re-emerged as a suspect in the Criminal Court bombing. (Bangkok Post photo)
Disappeared in broad daylight, a key witness to the 2010 Wat Pathum Wanaram killings, Nattatida Meewangpla re-emerged as a suspect in the Criminal Court bombing. (Bangkok Post photo)

Nattatida Meewangpla, a volunteer medic during the 2010 red-shirt crackdown who was mysteriously detained by the military last week, colluded with suspects in the March 7 Criminal Court bombing, a police spokesman alleged Tuesday.

Police believe Ms Nattatida is linked to two suspects arrested earlier -- Nares Intharasopha and Wassana Bussadee -- in plotting the attack on the court, Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said.

Ms Nattatida reportedly flashed an anti-coup, three-finger salute to reporters several times while being held at Metropolitan Police Bureau for questioning this afternoon.

The Bangkok Military Court on Tuesday approved the police's request to detain the three for 12 days pending further investigation. Police charged them with committing terrorist acts and opposed their bail.

Winyat Chartmontree, a red-shirt lawyer, offered a 600,000 baht bail surety for Ms Nattatida and 400,000 baht surety for Ms Wassana, but the court reportedly rejected both requests. Mr Nares's family will apply for his bail on Wednesday. 

Earlier: NCPO confesses to taking 2010 witness from home

The police spokesman said an ongoing investigation indicated that Ms Nattatida was in the same group of people accused of attempting to hire others to launch grenade attacks at five locations in Bangkok last month. Targets included the 11th Infantry Regiment, Lumpini Park, the Chatuchak MRT station, the Criminal Court and the parking lot of the Siam Kempinski Hotel near Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping mall.

He said a lese majeste suspect who lives in the United States, identified as Manoon Chaichana, allegedly hired Supaporn "Dear" Mitarak to stage the violent attacks. Police plan to seek extradition of Mr Manoon, aka Anek Sanfran, and arrested Mr Supaporn last week.

Police allege Mr Manoon also contacted Ms Wassana, who allegedly transferred payments to various suspects.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said Ms Nattatida was implicated by the money trail in the bombing case, but did not elaborate.

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