'Mor Yong' back behind bars

Lese majeste suspect Suriyan Sucharitpolwong, the fortune teller known as Mor Yong, has been brought back to his cell at a Bangkok military base after medical treatment.

He was admitted to the Corrections Department hospital on Thursday night after complaining of a headache, abdominal pains, flatulence, dizziness and slow reaction time, the department said in a statement on Friday.

Vittaya Suriyawong, the director-general of the department, said on Saturday that the accused's condition had improved. Consequently, he was brought back to the temporary prison at the 11th Army Circle.

"Mr Suriyan has a number of conditions. When he's stressed, his blood pressure rises and other symptoms follow. In any case, he will be kept at the temporary prison because it's convenient for the investigation," he said.

The well-known forture teller was one of three people arrested last week for lese majeste under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. Also taken into custody were his aide, Jirawong Watthanathewasilp, and Pol Maj Prakrom Warunprapa, a computer crimes officer.

Pol Maj Prakrom was found hanging in his cell last Saturday and died later at the facility's hospital. Authorities said he had committed suicide.

The trio were accused of extorting money from businesses by claiming links to the monarchy. An investigation is continuing into activities related to the "Bike for Mom" and "Bike for Dad" events in which sponsors were allegedly asked to quote inflated sums for goods and services, with the excess money going to the suspects.