Warrants set for lese majeste charges
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EIGHT CIB OFFICERS MOVED ON SUSPICION OF CHARGES; SRIWARA HEADING 112 PROBE
THE MILITARY Court has agreed to issue arrest warrants for an undisclosed number of people over lese majeste charges, assistant national police chief Pol Lt-General Sriwara Rangsipramman-akul said yesterday.
He explained that the people facing charges were accused of falsely claiming to be connected with the monarchy for personal gain. They are charged with violating Article 112 of the Penal Code.
However, Sriwara declined to identify or even say how many were involved. He just said that the police would tomorrow seek court permission to detain them.
“You will see for yourself then,” he told reporters.
He also refused to say whether the eight police officers recently transferred or a well-known fortune-teller were among those facing charges.
“I can’t tell you now,” he said, adding that investigators were expediting their work to “make things clearer” and that police had “strong evidence” against the suspects.
Sriwara, who is assistant national police chief, is leading the investigation team, which was set up in the wake of reports that a group of people was abusing the reputation of the monarchy.
Meanwhile, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) ordered the transfer of eight police on suspicion that they might have been involved in lese majeste cases.
“You can ask CIB chief Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nongharnpitak for details. He is deputy chief of the team investigating lese majeste allegations,” National Police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda said yesterday.
Military says protecting monarchy |is ‘a top priority’
Asked if this case would be as big as the one surrounding former CIB chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayapan, Chakthip said he couldn’t say as he did not have the full report. “Please ask Sriwara,” he advised.
In a related development, Armed Forces Supreme Commander General Sommai Kaotira said yesterday that protecting the monarchy was one of the military’s top priorities.
“We will provide round-the-clock protection. This is our main task in addition to defending the country and protecting national interest,” he pointed out.
Sommai spoke to reporters after chairing a meeting with Army commanders-in-chief at the Armed Forces headquarters. It was their first meeting since the new fiscal year started on October 1.
Also attending were Chakthip, Army chief General Teerachai Nakwanich, Navy chief Admiral Na Areenich and Air Force chief ACM Treetod Sonjance.
The military will also focus on cyber warfare, the Supreme Commander said.
“We are setting up a cyber-warfare division at the Joint Operations Command and have developed a strategy to combat it,” he said.
