Police and NCPO sued by 'plotter' still in jail
lawyer for man says it's impossible for inmate to be part of conspiracy
An inmate accused of being part of an alleged plot to launch an attack during next month’s Bike for Dad cycling event in Bangkok yesterday filed a lawsuit against senior police and military of ficers for issuing an arrest warrant against him while he is in jail.
Benjarat Meethian, a lawyer for inmate Thanakrit Thonggernperm, lodged a petition with the Crime Suppression Bureau in Bangkok against deputy national police chief Pol General Sriwara Ransibrah-manakul and Maj-General Wicharn Chottaeng, chief of the National Council for Peace and Order. He has accused them of malfeasance.
Thanakrit, 49, has been accused of plotting to create unrest and attack key government figures during the event.
But his lawyer said that was impossible – because Thanakrit was in jail.
Last week, police issued warrants for the arrest of Thanakrit and
other suspects over the alleged plot. Police said that they obtained information from two suspects, Prathin Chanket and Nattaphol Nawanlay, who were arrested last week, that at least nine people were involved in the plot.
Benjarat said it was not easy for an inmate like Thanakrit to have contact with the outside world, let alone plot to create chaos in the capital or attack a government VIP.
“I believe that the Khon Kaen prison [where he is held] does not allow political prisoners who were charged with lese majeste to contact outsiders to plot such a crime,” she said.
Thanakrit was jailed after a trial where he faced many charges including lese majeste in accordance with Article 112 of the Penal Code, computer crimes and for forging an official document.
He was also charged over his involvement in political activities including the so-called “Khon Kaen Model” – a plan to cause unrest in the Northeast.
“It’s impossible for him to commit other crimes from the prison. He was even under the close surveillance of the military and the lawyer could see him only under special conditions,” Benjarat said.
Police in the team investigating the case said that Thanakrit contacted other suspects including Prathin via telephone.
But Benjarat said she did not believe her client managed to make telephone calls.
She said Thanakrit admitted he knew some of the suspects in the case but had not contacted them since he was jailed last year.
Benjarat accused the senior officers of malfeasance in accordance with the articles 137, 157, 172, 173, 174 and 179 of the Penal Code, alleging they charged her client based on false evidence and using their positions to create trouble for him.
The government and the junta have been criticised for targeting suspects in the alleged plot to try to divert public attention from the scandal over the construction of Rajabhakti Park. Many senior officials in the government, the NCPO, the military and police have been accused of involvement in the scandal.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan refute that.
Prime Minister Prayut is in
Paris for an international confer-ence on climate change, while cyclists and officials yesterday did a rehearsal for the December 11 Bike for Dad event in the capital and the provinces.
More than 10,000 security personnel will be mobilised in the capital alone for the event.
Please contact
The Nation's Editorial: thenation@nationgroup.com
Online Advertising Contact : kullapark_pho@nationgroup.com
Tel: 02-338-3000