Relative seeks progress on probe into death of Italian photographer

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) - A relative has sought progress of Thai police's probe into the death of an Italian photographer during a political turmoil in Bangkok two years ago. Accompanied by a lawyer, Kharom Polthaklang, Elisabetta Polenghi met Police Major General Anuchai Lekbamrung , Deputy Commissioner of Thailand's Metropolitan Police Bureau, today to inquire about progress of the Thai police's investigation into the case, in which the Italian photographer, Falio Polenghi, her elder brother, was shot dead at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in the Thai capital on May 19, 2010. Earlier, Thailand's Department of Special Investigation or DSI returned an investigative report on the case to the metropolitan police who will then conclude an autopsy report of the dead photographer so that it will be handled by police interrogators and public prosecutors; while the Thai court has set the first hearing on the case, in which Elisabetta wants to be a co-plaintiff, on July 23, 2012. In another development, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, meanwhile, announced that it will deploy some 1,200 officers to ensure order at the Ratchaprasong Intersection, where red-shirt demonstrators will rally to mark the second anniversary of their protest against the then Democrat Party-led administration. Metropolitan police spokesman Police Colonel Preeda Sathaworn said that the deployed police will focus on taking care of public safety, maintaining social order and handling traffic at the intersection and its vicinity, as a number of people are expected to rally there on May 19. According to the spokesman, the police will also ban vendors with roasting equipment and flammable materials from entering the demonstration area, where sales of alcoholic beverages will also be prohibited. (TNA)