SONDHI SHOOTING
Army officer denies taking part in hit
- Published: 17/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
A non-commissioned army officer being hunted by police has denied taking part in the attempt to assassinate Sondhi Limthongkul, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, a source close to his superior says.
The source said yesterday Panya Srihera was at the house of former army chief Chettha Thanajaro on April 17 when Mr Sondhi was shot by a group of gunmen in Bangkok.
The soldier with the Special Warfare Unit in Lop Buri reports to Sunai Prapuchaney of the same unit. Col Sunai had ordered him to work as a gardener for Gen Chettha.
He was working at Gen Chettha's house on the day the attack took place, the source added.
Sgt Maj Panya and Pol Cpl Worawut Mungsanti of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau are wanted by police for suspected involvement in the Sondhi hit.
The investigators yesterday searched two locations in a bid to find the soldier.
A police source said a team went to the house of Sgt Maj Panya's wife, Khanita, in Trat's Ban Rai district but could not find him.
The next search was at Krisna Fa Siam Co, an eagle wood extraction plant in Trat's Khao Saming district. The factory is owned by Orathai Thanajaro, a daughter-in-law of Gen Chettha.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had already assured Thanee Somboonsap, who heads the investigation team, that they are ready to support his investigation to identify the mastermind.
Those behind the assassination attempt must face legal action no matter which political group they are working for, Mr Suthep said.
Mr Abhisit said he had offered to help solve the problems hindering the progress of the investigation, but Pol Gen Thanee said the team could continue working on their own.
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- Writer: POST REPORTERS
