Chalerm denies his employee and bomb suspect the same man
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Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday put an end to rumours that a member of his staff was the bomb suspect arrested on Friday.
He said that his staff member, Ekchana Phaopan, and the detainee Jeerawat Janpeng just had a slight resemblance.
“They have no connection whatsoever,” Chalerm said yesterday as Ekchana stood by his side at Government House.
Jeerawat was detained on Friday for allegedly planting six bombs in Bangkok. After he was paraded before media, somebody mentioned that he looked a lot like a member of Chalerm’s team, who was often seen accompanying the deputy PM.
“Ekchana has been with me for more than 10 years already,” Chalerm said, adding that it was very easy to prove the rumour was false. “Ekchana is here but the bomb suspect is at the Bangkok Remand Prison.”
Bangkok Remand Prison’s chief Sopon Thitithammapreuk confirmed that Jeerawat was being detained at the facility, adding, “you can visit him any time during the normal authorised hours”.
Sopon said Jeerawat had told him about the bomb plot in detail but he could not disclose the information. “I’ve promised that I will not divulge the information. After confessing, he appears more relaxed,” he said.
According to the prison chief, the bomb suspect is no longer showing signs of stress and was getting along well with other inmates.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Winai Thongsong said that ongoing investigation suggested that Jeerawat might have two or three accomplices.
“They used two vehicles – a black Toyota Corolla and a grey Toyota Yaris,” Winai explained.
Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung is leading the investigation.
According to Winai, Jeerawat had joined both red and yellow-shirt rallies and had extreme political ideologies.
Winai said police would try to nail down the other suspects who are on the run. Jeerawat and his accomplices had allegedly planted six bombs in three spots in the capital in the wee hours of December 16. The explosives have been safely disposed of.
As for security measures during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Winai said his agency and the Border Patrol Police Division would conduct checks between 8pm and 4am to prevent crime and ensure public order.
“We will take every measure so people can celebrate the New Year without any worries,” Winai said.
