Police target 11 in Jomsap case filings

ELEVEN SUSPECTS have been passed on to the public prosecutor to decide on indictments on charges including perjury related to a network alleged to have hired a scapegoat to take the fall for a fatal 2005 hit-and-run accident, which led to the conviction of former teacher Jomsap Saenmuangkhot.
The recommendation to charge 11 suspects was made public by Nakhon Phanom police chief Pol Maj-General Suwicharn Yankittikul at a morning press conference yesterday after police interviewed 68 witnesses in relation to the perjury case.
Nine of the 11 suspects were granted release on bail but Jomsap and her childhood friend and former teacher Suriya Nuancharoen were denied bail. 
The deputy spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Office, Prayut Petchakhun, said a team of prosecutors would be set up to consider the case and whether to indict the suspects.
Suwicharn said Jomsap face two charges of racketeering and presenting false evidence during a court trial.
Suriya faces the same two charges plus four other charges of inducing other people to give false testimony, conspiring to present false information to prosecutors and police, conspiring to file a false police complaint and conspiring to fabricate false evidence to convince authorities of a person’s criminal offence.
Jomsap’s witness, Thassanee Hanpayak, faces five charges of racketeering, conspiring to present false information to prosecutors and police, conspiring to file a false police complaint, conspiring to fabricate false evidence to convince authorities of a person’s criminal offence and giving false key testimony during a court trial.
Another witness, Thongres Wongsricha, faces two charges of racketeering and giving false testimony during a court trial.
Jomsap’s ex-husband Niran Saenmuangkhot faces three charges of racketeering, conspiring to file a false police complaint and conspiring to present false evidence during a court trial. 
Jomsap’s friend Saneh Supan faces two charges of racketeering and conspiring to file a false police complaint, while another friend, Rojana Jantharat, faces those two charges plus giving false testimony during a court trial.
Jomsap’s niece Wasana Phetchthong, who coordinated requests to related state agencies to help clear Jomsap’s name, faces two charges of racketeering and conspiring to present false evidence during a court trial. 
Lawyer Thanat Suktalodpee faces four charges of criminal association, presenting false information to prosecutors and police, conspiring to file a false police complaint, and conspiring to fabricate false evidence to convince authorities of a person’s criminal offence.
Self-confessed scapegoat Sap Wapi and his wife Chan Wapi were indicted on December 22 on five charges of criminal association, having police record false information in state documents that may result in damages to others, conspiring to present false information to prosecutors and police, conspiring to file a false police complaint and giving false testimony during an official court trial. 
Jomsap was sentenced to three years and two months in prison over the death of cyclist Lua Phorbumrung in the March 11, 2005 accident in Nakhon Phanom’s Renu Nakhon district. 
She was granted a royal pardon in April 2015 after serving 18 months but sought a retrial to clear her name. The Supreme Court on November 17 rejected her petition, citing suspicions of “hired scapegoats” and perjury in her attempt to clear her name.