A man has been arrested for selling illuminating flares to members of the Ultra Thailand group who set them off during the AFF Suzuki Cup final football match between Thailand and Indonesia at the Rajamangala National Stadium on the night of Dec 17.
Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, the metropolitan police chief, said at a press briefing on Wednesday night that police raided a shop in Bang Na area about 4pm after learning that the flares fired at the sport stadium on Saturday night were bought there.
The police found 1,950 illuminating flares in the shop and arrested the attendant.
The shop attendant, whose name was withheld, was being held at Bang Kaew police station in Samut Prakan. He was initially charged with possession of the flares, which are regarded as military hardware, without permission from the Defence Ministry. If found guilty, he would be liable to a maximum five years in jail and/or a fine of 50,000 baht.
Pol Lt Gen Sanit said the police would continue to look for those in the Ultra Thailand group who fired the flares. If caught they would be charged.
He said those who were directly or indirectly involved in the incident should report to Hua Mak police.
The city police chief said Prapot Panthongpho, 38, a core member of the Ultra Thailand group, had contacted police, saying he intended to surrender on Thursday.
At about 3.30pm, Woraphol Sermsakul from Lampang arrived at the Hua Mak police station in Bangkok to answer questions as a witness. Bangkok police chief Sanit interrogated him.
The man admitted that he normally sold flares in the northern province but had supplied them to the Ultra Thailand group via online contacts.
Police are seeking warrants to arrest nine people photographed while using flares at the stadium and about four key Ultra Thailand members. Police would also summon 10 other witnesses for questioning.
Fifa prohibits use of flares during an international football match and Thailand could be fined between 25,000 and 50,000 Swiss francs and face suspension from international matches because of the incident.
Several countries, including Malaysia, have recently faced Fifa sanctions after failing to control their fans during matches.
Woraphol Sermsakul, (right) the flare supplier from Lampang, meets Bangkok police chief Sanit Mahathavorn at the Hua Mak police station, Bangkok, Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)