Police seek to arrest five more suspects in trafficking case

The police had earlier wanted to forward the case to public prosecutors on June 19 in order to give them ample time to make decisions on indictment, he said.
“But today information on the case has changed – we need to arrest five more people,’’ he said.
Of 89 people wanted by police so far, 53 are in police custody, with 36 still at large, he said.
Aek said police and prosecutors met and resolved that the Rohingya trafficking case would be submitted to Provincial Prosecutors in Na Thawi on June 24 so that the Attorney General receives the case fast for indictment decisions and can be filed at the Provincial Court before July 24.
The joint team also resolved that prosecutors seek court approval to question some witnesses in advance, and request the court for a speedy trial.
Aek said some suspects accused of human trafficking also committed other offences. Pajjuban Angchotpan, who is suspected of trafficking, was also charged with encroaching upon a national park in Koh Lipe, for example.
Meanwhile, Police Region 9 deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Aekapap Prasitwat-tanachai said four Rohingya had run away from a child and family welfare home in Satun but police were able to bring them back. One of the four had to testify at Satun Provincial Court yesterday but police found the Rohingya victims broke the door and escaped from the home earlier in the night.
Police went searching for them and found them wandering and looking for food not far from the children’s home.
Kachen Sangpet, the home manager, said his place was not a detention centre and people brought to stay there were allowed to walk around the house. He said the four Rohingya were brought from Surat Thani for rehabilitation for one week before giving evidence in the court.