16 police officers guilty of breaching police regulations in ‘Ying Kai’ case

Meanwhile, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has assigned three separate police divisions to jointly investigate cases linked to Monta, while a lese majeste charge could be submitted to prosecutors by next week.

Deputy city police chief Pol Maj-General Jaruwat Waisaya, who led the investigation of the Prachacheun officers, said police reports relating to Monta’s cases were flawed to the extent that officers had violated regulations. 

The review found that seven investigators failed to perform their duties according to police regulation 419/2013, which requires a complete and thorough police report prior to a case being prosecuted.

The officers are also accused of violating Article 131 of the criminal procedural law, which requires police to investigate and gather evidence and testimony without delay.

The officers’ three immediate supervisors, four superintendents and two deputy commanders are also implicated, Jaruwat said, adding that the findings had already been submitted to Metropolitan Police Bureau acting chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn.

Jaruwat said the officers would be transferred based on whether their remaining in their posts posed a risk of evidence tampering. 

He added that the investigation did not find any evidence of forgery in the case reports. 

A lawyer had claimed that Monta’s former maid’s signature was forged in a case report.

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) deputy superintendent Pol Colonel Chakrit Sawatdee said the CIB-assigned team reviewing three charges against Monta of lese majeste, perjury and attempted human trafficking would include officers from the CSD, the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) and the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD). 

The team will be led by CIB deputy chief Pol Maj-General Sommai Kongwisaisuk. 

Chakrit said police led by the AHTD are interviewing witnesses in Mae Hong Son to collect evidence about alleged attempted human trafficking. He added that the cases of Monta’s former maids Janthana Khotkhongthai and Sukanya Sirimoung could be referenced in that charge. 

Monta came into the public spotlight after her former maid and engineering student Prapawan “Goi” Jaikla stepped forward to clear her name after Monta filed a police complaint claiming that Prapawan and her parents had stolen Bt10 million in cash and gold bars from her condominium in 2014. 

Prapawan claimed the accusation was baseless and the result of her refusal to work overseas. She was 17 at the time. 

It was later revealed that other former workers faced similar accusations, including Mae Hong Son resident Janthana who was jailed for 18 months after being charged with theft.