An arrest warrant has been issued for Pol Capt Aisoon Dathong, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Na Chom Thian Police Station in Chon Buri, for the suspected theft of manufacturing assets, resulting in roughly 10 million baht in damages.
Pol Col Narongrit Wapansu, Deputy Commander of Chon Buri Provincial Police, said Pol Capt Aisoon is suspected of masterminding a recent break-in at the Papermint Factory in Bang Lamung District, where a large electrical transformer was stolen.
After reviewing CCTV footage from the factory, police arrested four suspects on Oct 10 -- Watcharakorn Saenwong, 35, Krailas Sima, 33, Somsak Koetpho, 54, and Chaichana Phummarak, 22 -- and collected several items used in the crime.
Police expanded their investigation and found that another group of people had been hired to disassemble the electrical transformer for sale as copper wire and other spare parts.
Five more suspects were then arrested: Salit Phimsen, 33, Prapan Rueangdet, 45, Supol Phopiak, 28, Jirawat Suwanthan, 30, and Phongsak Huaiyai, 43. They were arrested on Oct 12 in Si Racha and Bang Lamung districts. All claimed to be acting on orders issued by the police captain, he said.
The gang managed to strip about 100kg of copper wire from the transformer, which they sold to a recycling shop in Si Racha district for about 50,000 baht.
Police said Pol Capt Aisoon offered Mr Phongsak 10,000 baht to divide between his associates.
When Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet learned about the policeman's involvement in the crime on Saturday, he directed Pol Maj Gen Thawatkiat Jindakhuansanong, commander of Chon Buri police, to transfer the deputy investigation chief from Na Chom Thian police station to the provincial police headquarters.
He additionally ordered a fact-finding team to report back within three days. He stated that if Pol Capt Aisoon is proven guilty, he will face both disciplinary and judicial action.
However, Pol Capt Aisoon failed to appear at the provincial police headquarters as requested. Instead, he went to Udon Thani, claiming he was taking his wife to a hospital for surgery.
The Pattaya Provincial Court then issued an arrest warrant for Pol Capt Aisoon on charges of theft and receiving stolen items.
Police have appealed to Pol Capt Aisoon to turn himself in to prove his innocence in the matter.
