15 армейских офицеров и гражданских лиц арестованы.

[voyager1970]

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Bangkok Bombs - arrests



Sat, January 20, 2007 : Last updated 15:40 pm
BANGKOK BOMBING PROBE
Some 15 military officers, civilians arrested
source: The Nation/breaking news

About 100 commando police raided 18 areas in Bangkok and other central provinces Saturday morning and detained some 15 military officers and civilians for questioning regarding the Bangkok bomb attacks on New Year's Eve.

Police sources the 15 persons were not charged yet but were detained under the martial law.

The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

The sources said Surapol was suspected of being the one who assembled the bombs used in launching eight attacks in Bangkok on New Year' Eve.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Saturday that he was still awaiting reports from police over the Bangkok bomb attacks.

He said he heard that police took some 10 suspects for questioning, and most of them were officials.

Police invoked the martial law, which empowered authorities to detain suspects without placing charges against them for seven days.

The suspects were taken to the Crime Suppression Division for questioning.

CSD-beat reporters witnessed the questioning and noticed that interrogators demanded the suspects to provide their alibi when a car bomb plot against former Thaksin Shinawatra was foiled late last year.

The detained military officers were also asked whether they had undergone bomb-assembling training or special warfare training.

Police also seized bank accounts and mobile phones of the suspects for checking.


The Nation

[voyager1970]

All bombing suspects freed

BANGKOK: -- All 18 suspects linked to the New Year's Eve bombings have been released after police failed to produce sufficient evidence by yesterday's deadline for detention without charge.

Only one civilian, identified publicly for the first time as Krissada Thibbadee, has been charged, with illegal possession of firearms and munitions. He is one of four civilians taken into police custody seven days ago.

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said earlier that nine suspects had been released. Two of them were released in the afternoon and another seven later in the evening.

Boonrawd said there would be further investigation where police had failed to produce evidence to support a prosecution.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, as head of the Internal Security Operations Command, will decide who handles further investigation.

"It could be the Department of Special Investigation that looks into matters not covered by the police," he added.

A police source said the nine suspects would be watched until police were positive they had no role in the attacks.

Another police source said three or four suspects would be charged with illegal possession of explosives soon.

Surayud described the latest information about the bombings given him by national police chief Kowit Wattana as "good progress".

"I think the police chief has shown dedication and made a considerable contribution to solving the case," he added.

--TNA 2007-01-27