The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the military detained a major general and four civilians in custody pending investigation into alleged extortion against vendors in Bangkok's night entertainment area, Patpong, on Silom Road.
Maj Gen Jennarong, 55, (right) is questioned at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)
Lt Col Burin Thongpraphai, a staff judge advocate, brought Maj Gen Jennarong Dechawan, also known as Seh James, to the CSD on Wednesday for interrogation. Maj Gen Jennarong, an expert attached to the office of the permanent secretary for defence, together with four civilians were taken in for questioning following Patpong vendors' complaints over alleged extortion and a sting operation.
The civilians were identified as Nongnuch Sitthirat, 44, Panthong Siriwan, 40, Janthima Chotekittikasem, 44, and Surat Phoomphuang, 46. CSD deputy commander Pol Col Prasopchoke Phrommool received the suspects for interrogation.
Soldiers and local police set up a sting operation in which vendors gave 2,000 baht in cash to the suspects in the lobby of Tawanna Bangkok Hotel on Surawongse Road early Wednesday morning. Maj Gen Jennarong, 55, was among the suspects who showed up at the lobby of the hotel.
Relatives of Maj Gen Jennarong later arrived at the CSD and complained that he was set up. They also used mobile phones to take photos and video clips of reporters who were covering the questioning.
All of the suspects were initially interrogated at the local Bang Rak police station and later brought to the CSD where military police tried to convince reporters not to take photos of Maj Gen Jennarong. The defence expert tried to avoid reporters.
Pol Col Prasopchoke said Maj Gen Jennarong and the other suspects were accused of extorting money from vendors in Patpong and the action on Wednesday complied with the National Council for Peace and Order's policy to suppress such crimes.
With the power of martial law, the CSD could detain the four civilian suspects in its cell and the military would do the same to Maj Gen Jennarong in a military compound for seven days, Pol Col Prasopchoke said.
The military will then decide if there is enough evidence to press charges against the group.
Pol Col Prasopchoke said the suspects would be treated fairly.