Police overreacted, son claims

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Region 7 chief Lt-General Hanpol Nitwibool insisted that police officers had not overreacted and were proceeding according to evidence found. He was summoned to speak before the House Committee on Police Affairs yesterday morning after Ake complained that police investigators had overreacted.
Ake said that Provincial Police Region 7 officers had used force to arrest his father even though several rounds of investigation in his Phetchaburi ranch had not yielded any extra evidence. He also said that police talked to the media as if his father was already convicted.
He also demanded to know why his father had not been granted bail when he had a permanent residence and was not a flight risk. Ake insisted that Provincial Police Region 7 investigators and Phetchaburi’s Tha Mai Ruak precinct police officers had acted irrationally and hence a new investigation team should be put in charge of the case.
Meanwhile, deputy police chief General Pansiri Prapawat said national police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew had instructed investigators to be fair when dealing with the four charges against Suphat. The suspect faces charges of illegal detention, possession of weapons, human trafficking and murder.
He added that officers from the Crime Suppression Bureau had been part of the investigation for a while now and that Adul had sought updates on the case twice already. Hence, he said, Ake and the rest of Suphat’s family should have confidence in the police.
Separately, Hanpol said police had not spoken to the press about the case and reporters were coming to their own conclusions. He added that though a 15-strong team of police officers were part of the arrest proceedings, Suphat had actually only been escorted out of the resort at which he was staying by two officers. He said Suphat had promised to surrender but never did and was still unable to explain clearly as to why he had 47 guns in his possession.
Urging Hanpol to keep data controlled in order to prevent damages to the accused, the committee said having Crime Suppression Bureau officers involved in the case should reduce doubts – a point that Ake and his lawyer were happy about. The panel will be meeting again next Wednesday to scrutinise the case and look into the legitimacy of the arrest warrant.
Meanwhile Samart’s father, Sawang Noomjui, went to court to object against Suphat being granted bail for fear that he would tamper with evidence, threaten witnesses or harm Sawang’s family.