ID :
137753
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 15:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/137753
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Probe into Thailand's burned mall, cinema to be completed this week
BANGKOK, Aug 15 - Investigations into the burning of CentralWorld, Thailand's largest shopping mall, and a nearby cinema, by anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatopship (UDD) in May are expected to be wrapped up this week, according to Tharit Pengdit, chief of Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Mr Tharit said DSI is now in the process of concluding investigations on terrorism conducted by the 'Red Shirt' movement of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and that he expects the probe into the burning of CentralWorld and the Siam Theatre could be completed within this week.
The shopping mall and the cinema were among 39 places burned in Bangkok at the end of the Red Shirt protest ended, following the surrender of the protest leaders on May 19.
Regarding the detention of 37-year-old Chakchalat (alias Pol) Khongsuwan, chauffeur of late 'Red Shirt' military strategist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, Mr Tharit said the man was one of the 25 terrorists who had been charged by DSI. He is being detained under the emergency decree, and since he was formerly a marine, the DSI has decided to investigate him along with military and security officials.
Mr Chakchalat, for whom an arrest warrant was issued earlier, was re-arrested by officers from the 191 Special Branch Police (police emergency centre) and is now detained at an undisclosed army camp for further questioning.
Mr Tharit said his agency is now tracking suspects implicated by Mr Chakchalat, who had close connections with the late Gen Khattiya and allegedly financed the UDD during its demonstrations. They will be arrested once solid evidence is obtained.
However, Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, argued Sunday that it was rather fishy in both charges and the re-arrest of Mr Chakchalat was because the authorities claimed that he had confessed but Mr Prompong said the suspect did not do so to any charges.
Also, security officials had asked DSI to keep Mr Chakchalat as witness so that he could throw blanket charges against the deceased Red Shirt activist general and other persons in the case which is not fair as the witness was pressured, said Mr Prompong. (MCOT online news)
Mr Tharit said DSI is now in the process of concluding investigations on terrorism conducted by the 'Red Shirt' movement of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), and that he expects the probe into the burning of CentralWorld and the Siam Theatre could be completed within this week.
The shopping mall and the cinema were among 39 places burned in Bangkok at the end of the Red Shirt protest ended, following the surrender of the protest leaders on May 19.
Regarding the detention of 37-year-old Chakchalat (alias Pol) Khongsuwan, chauffeur of late 'Red Shirt' military strategist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, Mr Tharit said the man was one of the 25 terrorists who had been charged by DSI. He is being detained under the emergency decree, and since he was formerly a marine, the DSI has decided to investigate him along with military and security officials.
Mr Chakchalat, for whom an arrest warrant was issued earlier, was re-arrested by officers from the 191 Special Branch Police (police emergency centre) and is now detained at an undisclosed army camp for further questioning.
Mr Tharit said his agency is now tracking suspects implicated by Mr Chakchalat, who had close connections with the late Gen Khattiya and allegedly financed the UDD during its demonstrations. They will be arrested once solid evidence is obtained.
However, Prompong Nopparit, spokesman of the opposition Puea Thai Party, argued Sunday that it was rather fishy in both charges and the re-arrest of Mr Chakchalat was because the authorities claimed that he had confessed but Mr Prompong said the suspect did not do so to any charges.
Also, security officials had asked DSI to keep Mr Chakchalat as witness so that he could throw blanket charges against the deceased Red Shirt activist general and other persons in the case which is not fair as the witness was pressured, said Mr Prompong. (MCOT online news)
