Police filed a lawsuit with the Saraburi Military Court on Wednesday seeking the indictment of former 3rd Army deputy chief Lt Gen Manas Paorik and six civilians for illegal possession of military-grade weapons.
In this photo taken on July 8, Lt Gen Manas Paorik, former deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region and a former top Pheu Thai Party member, reports to police to answer charges of involvement in illegal weapons possession. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) deputy chief Pol Col Prasobchoke Prommoon said the case was important as it was linked to other politically motivated attacks and security-related cases.
Police would wait for the prosecutors’ indictment decision.
Pol Col Prasobchoke said the police investigation indicated that Lt Gen Manas, who is known as Seh Yoi, was involved in supplying weapons used by the “men in black” - the hooded gunmen who battled army troops during the red-shirt protests on April 10, 2010 at Khok Wua intersection in Bangkok.
However, investigators had not found financial connections with that group, he said.
The 65-year-old retired general is a close aide to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a senior member of the Pheu Thai party.
He is among 11 suspects named in arrest warrants sought by the CSD and issued by the Saraburi military court on June 25 in connection with the recent confiscation of caches of war weapons found in Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Ayutthaya.
They were implicated by key suspects arrested in the weapons raids by troops.
The six other suspects are Somjate Kongwattana, Jirawai Orrachoonka, Pakaphoom Kosinanon, Apichart Puangpetch, Peerapong Sinthusonthichart and Wattana Subvichain.
The seven appeared in court for their arraignment. They were released on bail on the condition they refrain from hampering investigations.
Police are still hunting the other four suspects who remain at large, including former PM’s office minister Jakrapob Penkair.