A suspect in the alleged abduction and extortion of an airline businessman has turned himself in to police officers, admitting he was hired to "escort" gangsters without having knowledge of the kidnapping plot.
Thitikorn Chuenura, one of 11 suspects believed to be involved in the plot, said yesterday he and his four aides were hired by gangster Uthit Kokaew to accompany him to meet Surachai Sae-yang, who was later allegedly abducted by the gang.
"I was just told to escort Mr Uthit's men" to take the businessman to meet Maj Gen Jaroon Ampha at a school in the Don Muang area, he said, adding he had no idea of what they talked because he could not understand Chinese. He was given 2,000 baht and his subordinates 1,500 baht each.
Maj Gen Jaroon, chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters' coordinating centre of development projects, has been implicated as a key suspect. Like Maj Gen Jaroon, Mr Thitikorn worked for the military attached to a paramilitary unit.
The 38-year-old suspect, also known as Sergeant Toi, also said he once worked at the 9th Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi.
Mr Uthit, who is called by his nickname Sergeant Yak, earlier contacted Khok Khram police to arrange his surrender. "But whether or not he turns himself in, we will still arrest him," said Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan, chief of Patrol and Special Operation Division. He expected to file charges against the suspects under a gang law this week.
Another four suspects, who also work with the headquarters' military police division, are Sgt Saowadet Sakkittinan, Sgt Aphiwat Srinaprom, Sgt Thepphithak Ratthanee and Sgt Songwut Thiengtham.
A senior police officer, Pol Lt Col Natthakrit Yutthaya, is also accused of having a role in the kidnapping. He is an investigator with the Economic Crime Suppression Division's Subdivision 5, according to police. Another two suspects, arrested earlier, were identified as Opas Sriya and Ko Teck Chuan, a Singaporean national.
Police are also seeking court warrants for the arrest of the other men after gaining more information from Mr Surachai. The last suspect was identified by Mr Thitikorn yesterday as "Sia Nom" who is an aide serving Mr Uthit.
Mr Surachai was abducted by the gang and released after paying two million baht.
Deputy police spokesman Kritsana Pattanacharoen said the gang was also found to have committed crimes in the Wang Thong Lang and Lat Phrao areas.