The army lieutenant general wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the human trafficking of Rohingya has said he is innocent and is prepared to defend himself in court.
However, as of early Wednesday, Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, a senior expert in the army who now has a warrant out for his arrest, had still not turned himself in to police despite telling reporters Tuesday afternoon he was on his way to Padang Besar police station.
"I'd like to ask society not to judge me as though I'm already guilty. They should weigh information from both sides and wait until the court judgement," he said in a telephone interview.
"I beg for justice and I'm willing to cooperate with authorities. No matter what the court ruling is, I will respect it."
He denied rumours of meeting with army commander Udomdej Sitabutr Tuesday, saying instead that he was travelling to Padang Besar police station in Songkhla province's Sadao district.
According to Nakhon Si Thammarat police commander Pol Maj Gen Kiatipong Khaosam-ang, Lt Gen Manas was earlier ordered to remain at the 4th Region army headquarters in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
Lt Gen Manas is in the process of turning himself in, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Aek Angsananont.
National police chief Somyot Poompunmuang said he was confident Lt Gen Manas would not attempt to flee the country to avoid prosecution because he is a high-ranking military official.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed he will let the investigation run its course without interfering.
If sufficient evidence surfaces to indict Lt Gen Manas, he will be dismissed from his position, the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Lt Gen Manas is still just a suspect, and has not yet been found guilty.
Gen Prawit is considering whether to temporarily dismiss Lt Gen Manas pending the results of the probe.
Gen Udomdej has also instructed the army to set up a committee, chaired by 4th Region army commander Lt Gen Prakarn Chollayuth, to conduct a disciplinary investigation into Pol Gen Manas.
The army chief admitted he had known about Gen Manas's alleged misconduct even before the arrest warrant was issued by the Na Thawi Provincial Court in Songkhla on Sunday.
Lt Gen Manas is being charged with human trafficking, detaining victims of human trafficking and holding victims of trafficking for ransom.
According to police sources, Lt Gen Manas became implicated in Rohingya trafficking after a police search at the house of another suspect, Thanakan Molee, 24, in tambon Bang Rin of Ranong's Muang district on March 31.
Officers found 26 bank books and other financial records detailing transfers to two of Lt Gen Manas's accounts in Ranong from March 2013 to February 2014. They also found documents with Lt Gen Manas's bank account details.
The Royal Thai Police have been relentless in their search to unmask those behind trafficking crimes and are working closely with all agencies, including the army, to get custody of Lt Gen Manas, said Pol Gen Somyot, after chairing a Tuesday afternoon meeting with foreign police attaches.
Some 18 police liaison officers and representatives from Interpol and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime attended the meeting at police headquarters in Bangkok.
"Rohingya and Bangladeshi trafficking is a chronic problem that requires not only Thai efforts to resolve it, but serious collaboration from other countries concerned," Pol Gen Somyot said.
"The foreign partners can be assured that the Thai government is determined to fix the problem," he said, adding that the Thai police are now closely coordinating with other countries through Interpol and via bilateral arrangements.
The Bangkok-based US security delegation, comprising police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, also met with the police chief.
"The US commends our work and has offered to help," he said.
Pol Gen Somyot said police had worked closely together with army commanders before issuing the arrest warrant for Lt Gen Manas.
"We communicated with our supervisors at each step," he said, adding he could not comment on whether more officers would be charged.
