Following the high-profile arrest of Somchai Khunploem, alias Kamnan Poh, on Wednesday, Bangkok Post reporter AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK spoke to Pol Col Arthip Taennil, head of the Crime Suppression Division's (CSD) special operations unit, to find out more about the sting.
Filial visit Chon Buri provincial administration organisation chairman Witthaya Khunploem arrives at the Medical Correctional Institution on Ngam Wong Wan Road to visit his father Somchai Khumploem, who is receiving treatment there.
How long did it take authorities to find Somchai before arresting him?
Two months. We started at Ban Saen Suk, Kamnan Poh's house on Bang Saen Beach [in Chon Buri] where we received many tip-offs that he had been there or was seen near the place.
Why didn't he get wind that police were closing in on him?
We have no idea about that. All we received two months ago were tip-offs about his presence in Chon Buri and we then began working on them. One important piece of information was a video clip of a birthday party held for him at Ban Saen Suk on Sept 30, the same day that police received information that he actually phoned someone at the party.
What piece of information made you feel sure he was in Thailand at that time?
Following the Supreme Court's March 12 verdict, more and more information about sightings were being received via the internet. The Central Investigation Bureau and the CSD were ordered to follow these up. That was when the operation formally began.
Arthip: Minimised risk to public
Did the family of Prayoon Sitthichoke, the late political rival of Kamnan Poh, provide police with information about his presence in the country? We couldn't exactly identify who was who on the internet. And we were struck by the fact that the number of postings online about Kamnan Poh had risen dramatically late last year between September and December.
After analysing all these pieces of information, we received a clearer picture of where he actually was.
What about him receiving medical care at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital?
We have no information on that.
How did you know he went to the hospital and were able to arrest him after that?
We were following a new line of inquiry, but we really didn't know he went to the hospital. We simply followed a car from Ban Saen Suk. At first, we weren't even sure he was in the car.
Everyone knew that he moved back to Chon Buri eight months ago. That's why many people are surprised that he was only arrested now.
We only obtained information about his presence in Thailand two to three months ago. Before that, we had no clue as to where he was.
What made you believe he was in that car?
We monitored movements [at the house] 24 hours a day for two months and we had a team that confirmed he was in the car. But we had to wait to carry out the arrest on the highway to minimise the risk to the public and officers.
But he didn't seem to be resisting arrest then. He seemed unaware that he would be arrested.
No, he didn't resist arrest at all. There were three other people in his car. They were his relatives. And although some bullets were found in the car, we found no guns.
Why didn't police arrest him in Chon Buri then?
Honestly, the investigators couldn't prove he was in Chon Buri as they had not seen him in the flesh. So why didn't the Chon Buri police make the arrest?
It's been a difficult task over the past two months. We worked around the clock every day. I insist this operation has nothing to do with politics. It's just another police operation.