Several army and police officers linked to a high-profile lese majeste case have fled overseas, police spokesman Detnarong Suthicharnbancha says.
They include Maj Gen Suchart Prommai, former 11th Infantry Regiment commander now stripped of military rank; Pol Col Pairoj Rojanakhajorn, a former chief of the Crime Suppression Division's (CSD) Sub-Division 2; and his then deputy Pol Lt Col Thammawat Hiranyalekha, said Pol Gen Detnarong said, citing intelligence reports.
They managed to slip out of the country but it has not been confirmed where they are hiding, he said.
They were allegedly involved with the criminal network of Suriyan "Mor Yang" Sucharitpolwong, the late fortune-teller, and Pol Maj Prakrom Warunprapa.
Both men died while being held in military custody.
The network allegedly cited the monarchy to solicit money from business operators to fund the production of shirts and pins to mark the Bike for Mom event held on Aug 16.
It is uncertain whether they are staying together overseas, but police are confident the suspects will be brought to justice, Pol Gen Detnarong said.
Investigators are gathering evidence to seek arrest warrants for others involved, he said.
Pol Gen Detnarong said police are considering whether another suspect, Pol Lt Col Thanabat Prasertwit, deputy chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division's Sub-division 1, will have his duties suspended or transferred, adding his whereabouts remain unknown.
Pol Lt Col Thanabat was linked to a group headed by Pol Maj Prakrom, whom police said contacted private companies to seek sponsors and assigned his associates to collect the money.
Speaking about Special Branch commissioner Roy Ingkhapairoj, who was transferred to work at the operations centre of the Royal Thai Police, Pol Gen Detnarong said police have not yet investigated his role, as no information linked him to the offence.
Pol Lt Gen Roy and Crime Suppression Division commander Akkaradej Pimolsri, who was also moved to the operations centre of the RTP, still have a chance to be reinstated, pending the decision by National Police Chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda. The transfer of Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej stemmed from his negligence in allowing his subordinates to commit the offence, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, investigators are gathering evidence to seek another arrest warrant of a police major general, which should be approved in a few days, according to other police sources.
