Police yesterday asked the public prosecutor to indict Watana Pumret, the prime suspect in the May 22 bombing at Phramongkutklao Hospital and six other related bombing incidents.
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul led a team of police to submit a total of 20 investigation files, containing about 10,000 pages and dealing with five counts on which the investigators want the 62-year-old retired engineer to be indicted. The counts are premeditated attempted murder, causing explosions harming others and their assets, causing explosions seriously harming others, causing damage to buildings, and possession of explosives.
Mr Watana has confessed to all these counts, while the statute of limitations for the other count of causing others to lose their assets has already expired, Pol Gen Srivara said.
The suspect has been under police custody since June 22 and the court's permission for the police to further detain the suspect, renewed recently, will expire in 24 days, he said.
Mr Watana, according to security sources, confessed that he went to the hospital to survey the scene several times in April before planting the bomb.
Mr Watana told interrogators that he bought a timer from Ban Mo electric market, items from a fireworks store on Rama VII Road, and a vase at a store close to Yanhee Hospital near the residence of his second wife.
In the footage, the 62-year-old retired engineer, wearing a hygiene mask, was carrying a plastic bag with what appeared to be a flower vase inside. He arrived at the hospital at 8.47am. He walked to the Wongsuwon Room shortly before 9am and left the room about 10.20am.
He then left the hospital at 10.22am. The investigators also interviewed a patient who confirmed Mr Watana's visit to the hospital.
Since Mr Watana was seen in the footage, investigators secretly followed Mr Watana's movements for 24 days.
Mr Watana often left home to visit his second wife at her condo. Mr Watana's first wife is a retired military officer.
He was detained by military officials on Jun 15 and kept under their custody for a week before he was handed over to police.
Investigators used a ruse to arrest the suspect by saying that surveillance cameras in the hospital did not work, even though they were the key tools that led to the arrest, a source said.
Shortly after the bombing at the hospital on May 22, authorities told reporters that half the surveillance cameras were out of order.
Pol Col Chayut Marayat, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Division 1, said investigators focused mainly on the hospital bombing.
Statements of more than 100 witnesses have been gathered, Pol Col Chayut said.
Department of Criminal Litigation chief Natthachak Patthamasing Na Ayutthaya said he will next form a team comprising about six of his deputies to work on the submitted investigation files.
He will head the team handling the case, he said.
The prosecutors should be able to decide on the requested indictment of the suspect in this case before the next renewal of the court's permission to detain the suspect expires, he said.
Prosecutors will ensure justice for the suspect and ensure he has the right to request bail, Mr Natthachak said.