Govt figures back police claim about jailed 'plotter'

GOVERNMENT leaders came out yesterday to back a claim by police that an inmate at Khon Kaen prison was part of a plot to stir up unrest and assassinate political figures in Bangkok later this month.

They said it was likely that the convict, Thanakrit Thong-ngernperm, had contacted suspects arrested in connection with the alleged plot. The man is being detained for involvement in the “Khon Kaen Model” – supposedly a plan to incite government opposition in the Northeast following last year’s military coup.

The inmate’s attorney, Benjarat Meethian, has lodged a complaint with Crime Suppression police against Pol General Sriwara Ransibrahmanakul, a deputy National Police chief, and Maj-General Wicharn Chottaeng, legal affairs chief for the National Council for Peace and Order, for wrongly accusing her client of taking part in the alleged conspiracy. 

On Sunday, she said it was impossible for Thanakrit, who was in jail, to have helped plan an attack on the Bike for Dad mass-cycling event on December 11.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also defence minister, said he did not think the inmate had stayed idle while in detention.

“I don’t think he was passive, otherwise the court wouldn’t have issued his arrest warrant,” Prawit said.

Thanakrit was one of the nine people facing military court-granted police arrest warrants in connection with the alleged subterfuge. Three of them have been caught while the others are still at large. They were linked to the red shirts, who are supporters of the previous civilian government.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said there had been cases of incarcerated drug convicts communicating with their accomplices outside prison walls. However, in this case it was found that the prisoner had made his contribution before going to jail. 

Paiboon said he did not think his lawyer, or even leaders of the red shirts, knew every move made by the inmate. 

“I wonder if they also were among the plotters. They seem to know everything about him,” he added.

Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda, the National Police chief, maintained that police had sufficient evidence to convince the court that the inmate was involved in the plotting when they requested his arrest warrant.

Besides those already in custody, some on the run have contacted police about surrendering. Police would eventually get all nine suspects in this case, he said.

Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nonghanpitak, commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, said the probe was being handled in a straightforward manner and legal action would be taken against anyone found to be involved. 

Police would look into this inmate’s assertion that he had nothing to do with the alleged scheme. 

“Sometimes accomplices were overseas or in prison, but they were implicated by evidence linking to them. We will make the facts known soon about this case,” he said.

Both police and the military gave assurances that security would be beefed up during the Bike for Dad event and other public functions coming up. 

Chakthip, the police chief, said more than 3,000 officers would take part in the security operation at the Bike for Dad activities throughout the country. He was speaking after a meeting of senior police in preparation for the event.

Army chief General Teerachai Nakwanich instructed units to help maintain security during the national events to be held later this month, starting from His Majesty the King’s birthday celebration on December 5, said Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, a deputy Army spokesperson.