Samut Sakhon - A man has been arrested on lese majeste charges after being implicated in an extortion racket linked to the case against former Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pongpat Chayapan.
Chaiya Kanchanarattanapon was arrested after a group of anti-coal activists on Friday lodged a complaint against Natthapol Suwadee, a former army captain once known as Natthapol Akkharaphongpricha.
Mr Natthapol is accused of intimidation and lese majeste for his alleged role in Pongpat’s criminal network.
Mr Natthapol is facing charges of lese majeste, illegal debt collection, forcibly detaining others and extortion. He has been dismissed from the military and stripped of his rank.
The activists, led by Charnchai Rungrojsakhon, claimed Mr Natthapol cited the monarchy to intimidate them into stopping their anti-coal protest.
After receiving the complaint, Muang Samut Sakhon police obtained an arrest warrant against Mr Chaiya for his alleged involvement in the case.
He denied the charges and told police he would give a statement in court.
Mr Charnchai said the intimidation dated back to 2011 when about 200 people in Samut Sakhon blocked Rama II Road to protest against a coal shipment. The rally prompted the provincial governor to suspend the shipment.
At the time, Mr Natthapol allegedly invited Mr Charnchai to a meeting at his house.
Mr Charnchai said he and another activist attended and were told to end their protests because Mr Natthapol wanted to operate a coal shipping business.
Mr Charnchai said he and his colleague left without comment after learning of Mr Natthapol’s alleged influence.