Five warders and court-based correction officers have been transferred as the Department of Corrections continues investigating irregularities surrounding last month's incident, in which yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul was taken to court on the wrong day.
Department director-general Narach Sawettanan revealed this yesterday when asked about progress in the probe into the mistake which occurred on Nov 22 as well as raising doubts over the real motive behind the alleged mistake.
The explanations given by the five officers as to why Sondhi was taken to the court on Nov 22 rather than Dec 22, when his hearing was scheduled for, were not convincing, said Pol Col Narach.
Sondhi has been behind bars since the Supreme Court in September last year handed down a 20-year-jail sentence in a case involving a breach of the Securities and Exchange Act.
Questions have been raised as to why those officers who collected Sondhi failed to double-check the date of the court hearing either at the prison, or on arrival at the court, said Pol Col Narach.
Instead, Sondhi was taken to wait on the ground floor of the court building, where it is believed a number of relatives met him.
"Even if that really was an honest mistake, how on earth did the relatives know in advance Sondhi would be at the court," said Pol Col Narach.
The department's fact-finding panel is examining the court's security camera footage to see what actually happened on Nov 22.
While the panel's investigation is under way, the warders and correction officers responsible have been transferred to Bangkok Remand Prison, confirmed Pol Col Narach.
Results of the investigation are expected early in the New Year, he said, adding, however, that it was confirmed at this stage of the investigation that the vehicle taking Sondhi to the court on Nov 22 did not deviate from the usual route between the prison and the court.
In another development, Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong will issue a new policy to the Department of Corrections. This comes after reports of the dismissal of 14 prison wardens a week ago for allegedly allowing male prisoners to enter the women's section for sexual intercourse.