Surin prison officials accused of dealing drugs
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Three officials working at a Surin prison have been suspended and face prosecution after a search allegedly turned up evidence linking them with drug dealings within the prison complex.
The three officials at Rattana Buri prison are Bunhome Rawirueng, wife Sommai Bussaba and Wachirasak Suknongbueng, who have each been released on a Bt2million bail. The search was tipped off by inmates.
Authorities also found 63 mobile phones, 15 SIM cards, a number of amphetamine tablets and ice flakes, along with evidence at the residences of all three showing names of drug racket members and transactions of more than Bt50 million, Bt37 million allegedly through the three suspects.
Police said the suspects dealt in drugs with an inmate imprisoned in Khao Bin prison in Ratchaburi, which will soon house around 500 highprofile drug convicts transferred from other prisons.
This inmatedealer is identified as Phanuwat Sirichai, and was allegedly helped by two relatives identified merely as Mangkorn and Ball.
Phanuwat also did business with another racket led by the Wongyam brothers, which had direct contact with the three prison officials suspended yesterday, police sources said.
The Corrections Department will sort out highprofile drug convicts with two government agencies, before finalising who is on a 500name list to be transferred to Khao Bin prison. There are now 2,200 inmates at the Ratchaburibased prison which has a 3,000inmate capacity.
Deputy directorgeneral Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said devices to jam mobile phone signals would be installed at three prisons in Phitsanulok, Rayong and Nakhon Ratchasima, which will have a total of 10,000 inmates under the signals cover, including 500 at the Khao Bin prison.
In Kanchanaburi, a public health official, a driver and a guard working at a local hospital were arrested at a police checkpoint yesterday, with nine amphetamine tablets and a pack of marijuana in their possession.
Police identified the suspects as C3 official Somphorn Wongsema, driver Pharadorn Thongdee and security guard Rattamakamphol Sangkhajorn. Police said Pharadorn and Rattamakamphol turned in a positive urine test result.
Police are investigating whether a luxury SUV with the three occupants inside pulled over at the checkpoint belonged to a senior official, and whether he had anything to do with illegal activity.
