Property man Boontham held over lese majeste
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Property businessman Boontham Boonthepprathan, who was taken into police custody on Friday over alleged crimes of lese majeste during land deals in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district, will remain at the Bangkok Remand Prison.
The Criminal Court yesterday denied the 65-year-old businessman release on bail on grounds that he was a flight risk, despite his relatives applying with Bt3 million in cash. Boontham will be detained until March 11 pending a police investigation.
Boontham – along with land broker Setthawut Pengdit, who is a brother of the former head of the Department of Special Investigation Tarit Pengdit – was accused of citing the monarchy during attempts in 2007-2008 to buy land from residents of Lamtakong self-help settlement. Boontham reportedly admitted to buying the Khao Nong Cheum land to resell it at a profitable price, but insisted he never mentioned the monarchy. On February 19, Setthawut surrendered to police on the lese majeste charge.
