The Criminal Court at Ratchadapisek and the Bangkok South Criminal Court have approved four warrants for the arrest of Montri Sotangkur, alias Louis, a Grand Chamberlain attached to the Bureau of the Royal Household, for lese majeste.
This was announced on Wednesday at a press conference at the Royal Thai Police Office by Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang, the national police chief, and Pol Lt Col Prawut Thawornsiri, the police spokesman.
According to Pol Gen Somyot, two arrest warrants were issued on June 8, for Thonglor and Bang Rak police, and two others on June 9, for Thung Song Hong and Bang Sue police.
Mr Montri is charged with lese majeste under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and abuse of authority for self-interest by claiming familiarity with the high institution to demand an important position on the board of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, and to buy plots of land in areas under the jurisdiction of Thonglor, Bang Rak, Thung Song Hong and Bangsue police stations.
A preliminary investigation also found that Mr Montri had been involved in the criminal network of former Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayapan, the convicted and sacked chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol Gen Somyot said.
Pol Gen Somyot said that since arrest warrants had been approved by the courts, he would send a letter to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary of the Bureau of the Royal Household asking that Mr Montri be handed over to the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters on June 11.
The police chief said he would be at the Metropolitan Police headquarters to witness the handover.
