Warrants approved for five in arms cache probe

Warrants approved for five in arms cache probe

Police have obtained warrants to arrest five men over the so-called 'arms cache' found in Chachoengsao, but the only one to report to authorities (above) is retired Lt Gen Manas Paorik, 68, who was deputy chief of the 3rd Army during the first Thaksin government. (Post Today photo)
Police have obtained warrants to arrest five men over the so-called 'arms cache' found in Chachoengsao, but the only one to report to authorities (above) is retired Lt Gen Manas Paorik, 68, who was deputy chief of the 3rd Army during the first Thaksin government. (Post Today photo)

A court has approved a police request for arrest warrants for five people for their alleged links with the discovery of an arms cache in Chachoengsao on Nov 24, deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said yesterday.

Following the court's approval, one of the suspects, former 3rd Army deputy chief Lt Gen Manas Paorik, 68, accompanied by his lawyer, Thursday afternoon turned himself in to Pol Gen Srivara.  Lt Gen Manas refused to speak to reporters, and after questioning, was released on bail with a surety of 200,000 baht.

The deputy national police chief said investigators would not object to his bail application. The other suspects are former PM’s Office minister and red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair, 50; Jakkarin Ruangsakwichit, 52; Chaiwat Polpho, 49, aka Peak Kalamae, and Somjet Kongwatana, 63, said Pol Gen Srivara.

Pol Gen Srivara refused to say whether the weapons discovery was a political ploy by the government allowing it to postpone lifting its ban on political parties' activities.

However, he insisted that the weapons are linked to a total of 18 violent incidents both in 2014 and 2017, including the M79 grenade attack at the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in Nonthaburi's Muang district in 2014.

Another major case which bears a similarity to this one is the previous discovery of a large array of mostly military weapons at a house linked to hardcore red-shirt leader Wuthipong Kochathamakun, alias Kotee, in Pathum Thani in March, said Pol Gen Srivara.

Found and seized for examination at the Pathum Thani house back then included four M16 assault rifles, a shotgun, a carbine, an M79 grenade launcher and eight grenades, 11 hand grenades and over 5,500 rounds of ammunition, police said at that time.

The house also served as an office space for Thai Max Group Co owned by Mr Wuthipong, Pol Gen Srivara said Thursday.

Previously, another suspect identified as Watana Sapwichien, 51, turned himself in to the Army Air Defence Operation Centre 1 in Pathum Thani last Friday, after Pol Gen Srivara told the media the police were preparing to seek arrest warrants for several suspects.

He has reportedly been taken into custody at the 11th Military Circle.

A source at the National Council for Peace and Order on Wednesday offered more information about Watana, saying the man had completed a 20-month prison sentence handed down for his involvement in two attacks in 2014, one in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district and Pathum Thani's Lat Lum Kaeo district.

The explanation was made in response to growing public scepticism as to why Watana suddenly showed up and turned himself in.

The government also said it wanted to know why he was free when he had been jailed for an earlier, similar offence, a matter which has now been clarified.

Meanwhile, Cambodian newspaper Khmer Times reported that Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Chhum Socheat denied any Thai suspects wanted in connection with the arms cache were hiding in Cambodia.

“We don’t have any information about suspects in Cambodia,” he said.

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