ID :
94720
Sun, 12/13/2009 - 12:51
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http://m.oananews.org//node/94720
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Police reject bail for five foreigners in arms weapon seizure case; UN to be informed
BANGKOK, Dec 13 (TNA) -- Thai police have denied bail for five foreigners detained Saturday after the authorities confiscated a large amount of military armaments aboard their plane, and the government is preparing to report the incident officially to the United Nations.
Initially, police charged the five men -- four from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus -- of violating aviation regulations and arms trafficking laws. Police said they would ask Criminal Court permission Monday for further detention and interrogation of the five men and that bail would be denied.
They are now detained at the Police Crime Suppression Division and will be sent to Bangkok Special Prison after permission is received from the Criminal Court.
Thirty-five to 40 tonnes of confiscated weaponry will be stored at an air force arms depot at Takhli air base in Nakhon Sawan province, police said.
The military transport aircraft, believed to be a charter flight en route from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and heading for Sri Lanka, asked for special permission to land at Bangkok’s domestic Don Mueang airport to refuel.
Thai authorities searched the aircraft after it landed and found a full cargo of war weaponry, including rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition contained in 12 crates.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the seizure of war weapons was not concerned with Thailand’s security problem.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, responsible for national security affairs, said he expected that more details would be obtained in the next few days as to where the weapons came from and where they were destined.
Mr. Suthep said the Thai government would report the incident to the United Nations. Insisting that the incident is a “sensitive issue” as it involves several countries, Mr. Suthep said the issue would be carried out in accordance with Thai law and would be handled transparently.
Meanwhile, Crime Suppression Police early Sunday began interrogating the five men. A Kazakhstan embassy official and a Russian interpreter also attended the interrogation session during which the five suspects denied charges. The five reportedly told police that they were hired only to transport the shipment to Sri Lanka.
Thai Police spokesman Pol. Lt-Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen told journalists that the five men had requested police through the embassy official to provide them adequate facilities including a private bathroom and clothing in line with human rights as they had not had a bath since being detained. They claimed that they were stressed.
Gen. Pongsapat said the Kazakh embassy plans to post bail for all five men, but police have objected as the case is seen as a serious criminal offence. (TNA)
Initially, police charged the five men -- four from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus -- of violating aviation regulations and arms trafficking laws. Police said they would ask Criminal Court permission Monday for further detention and interrogation of the five men and that bail would be denied.
They are now detained at the Police Crime Suppression Division and will be sent to Bangkok Special Prison after permission is received from the Criminal Court.
Thirty-five to 40 tonnes of confiscated weaponry will be stored at an air force arms depot at Takhli air base in Nakhon Sawan province, police said.
The military transport aircraft, believed to be a charter flight en route from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and heading for Sri Lanka, asked for special permission to land at Bangkok’s domestic Don Mueang airport to refuel.
Thai authorities searched the aircraft after it landed and found a full cargo of war weaponry, including rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition contained in 12 crates.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the seizure of war weapons was not concerned with Thailand’s security problem.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, responsible for national security affairs, said he expected that more details would be obtained in the next few days as to where the weapons came from and where they were destined.
Mr. Suthep said the Thai government would report the incident to the United Nations. Insisting that the incident is a “sensitive issue” as it involves several countries, Mr. Suthep said the issue would be carried out in accordance with Thai law and would be handled transparently.
Meanwhile, Crime Suppression Police early Sunday began interrogating the five men. A Kazakhstan embassy official and a Russian interpreter also attended the interrogation session during which the five suspects denied charges. The five reportedly told police that they were hired only to transport the shipment to Sri Lanka.
Thai Police spokesman Pol. Lt-Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen told journalists that the five men had requested police through the embassy official to provide them adequate facilities including a private bathroom and clothing in line with human rights as they had not had a bath since being detained. They claimed that they were stressed.
Gen. Pongsapat said the Kazakh embassy plans to post bail for all five men, but police have objected as the case is seen as a serious criminal offence. (TNA)
