A policeman’s wife accused of having someone throw chilli powder in the face of a motorist in a robbery attempt appeared in court on Saturday.
Saeng-arun Prathumphuang, alias “Jae Da”, turned herself in to police at the Bang Sue station in Bangkok on Friday after being implicated by a suspect in the incident. She said she would only answer questions in court.
Investigators pressed two charges against Ms Saeng-arun of colluding in the assault and attempted theft of cash and valuables from Wassana Sesaratcjawet on Nov 2, said Pol Col Veeradol Thapthimdee, chief of Bang Sue police.
Police on Saturday took Ms Saeng-arun to the Criminal Court to seek the first 12-day detention period pending the questioning of four witnesses. The officers opposed her bail request.
Suspects in criminal cases can be detained for a maximum of 84 days before charges must be formally laid.
Thairath Online reported that Ms Saeng-arun was accompanied to the court by her husband, Pol Sub Lt Sompong Srikaewphan. He had raised 300,000 baht as a surety for bail.
The woman had been implicated by Niphaporn Samutkhiri 39, who was arrested earlier for the attack on Ms Wassana, 48.
The incident took place around 8.30pm on Nov 2, while Ms Wassana was waiting at a traffic light near the Central Juvenile and Family Court on Kamphaeng Phet Road. Police say Ms Niphaporn knocked on the door of Ms Wassana’s Mercedes and when the driver lowered the window, threw chilli powder at her.
The victim immediately drove away as she believed the attacker might snatch her handbag from the front seat. It contained 800,000 baht in cash and a diamond-studded bracelet worth about 65,000 baht.
After seeking medical treatment at a local hospital, Ms Wassana filed a complaint with Bang Sue police.
Ms Niphaporn was subsequently caught and told investigators that “Jae Da” had hired her for 50,000 baht to carry out the attack and to bring her the victim’s handbag.