Pair retract statements in 'Billy' case

Pair retract statements in 'Billy' case

Witnesses who said they saw forest officials releasing missing activist Porlajee Rakchongcharoen have now retracted their statements, police said.

Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen (left) disappeared immediately after being apprehended by security officials of the Kaeng Krachan National Park, reportedly for poaching honey. Then-park chief Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn has been questioned about the disappearance of Billy, with whom he had several disputes. (Bangkok Post file photos)

Pol Col Triwit Namthongthai, deputy commander of Crime Investigation Division Provincial Police Region 7, who heads the investigation into the disappearance of Mr Porlajee, also known as Billy, said two students who were supposedly among the last to see the Karen activist after he was nabbed by national parks officials in April last year have now retracted their statements.

Earlier, Phetchaburi investigators questioned the North Bangkok University students, identified as Isara Prueksahet and Suwanna Raman.

The witnesses, who were interns at the park, originally said they saw the activist arrested, and later spotted him after his release.

The interns also led investigators to the area where the Karen leader was captured and the spot where they claimed to have seen him riding a motorcycle after his release.

Pol Col Triwit said the pair have reversed their statements and now say they did not see Mr Porlajee being released.

Investigators who had examined camera footage at the park confirmed there were no pictures of Mr Porlajee being released.

Mr Porlajee was caught by officials on April 17 last year for illegal honey gathering. He was en route to meet Karen villagers to help them file a lawsuit accusing authorities of torching the homes of 20 families in Kaeng Krachan National Park in 2011.

Mr Porlajee vanished after disputes with park officials last year.

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