Maj-Gen Khattiya says he will report to police within deadline

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) -- Thai Army Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, a prime suspect in the M79 grenade attack on the country’s army headquarters in the capital last week, said Saturday he will turn himself in to the police on charges of illegally possessing military weapons within the set deadline.

There is no need for police investigators to issue a second order to report to Crime Suppression Police as he is ready to accompany Pol Lt-Col Somchai Paetprasert, an opposition Puea Thai Party MP from Nakhon Ratchasima, in reporting to police.

Pol Lt-Col Somchai is chairman of the House of Representatives’ military affairs committee.

Gen Khattiya said he will leave Hat Yai airport at about 7pm Saturday for Bangkok to inspect for damage from the police search of his home on Thursday, when a number of military weapons and a supply of ammunition were seized.

He said he would hold a press conference before going to join the Red Shirt anti-government protesters at a national forest reserve in Chanthaburi.

The Red Shirts are demonstrating at Soi Dao Highland Golf Club to bring attention to what they term as the double standard of law enforcement by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship says the Soi Dao golf course owner, an associate of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, of encroaching on the Khao Soi Dao mountain forest reserve and building the golf course on national land.

Crime Suppression Police have set the deadline for Gen Khattiya to report to police and acknowledge illegally possessing military weapons within seven days (January 29). If he fails to do so, police will issue a second warning, and if he does not appear again, police will seek court permission for an arrest warrant.

Police investigators will not present Gen Khattiya’s case to the military court because several civilians were also charged in the same case. (TNA)