3 Iranians questioned, two released
Police yesterday apprehended three Iranians, including a married couple, who stayed at a Bangkok condominium rented by two people suspected of involvement in small bomb blasts in the capital two weeks ago.
The couple, identified as Rahimi Radiraj and Mahbub Tasbehi, were released after questioning revealed they had no links to the three blasts.
Meanwhile, Madani Seyed Mehrded remains in Immigration Police custody after being found to have overstayed his visa. Immigration chief Pol Lt-General Wibool Bangthamai said Khlong Tan police, who handled the case as the explosions had taken place near Sukhumvit Soi 71 – in their jurisdiction – would soon interview Mehrded. He would be sent back to Iran if they found he had no links to the explosions or other crimes, Wibool said.
On Sunday evening, police raided Nasa Vegas condominium near Khlong Tan intersection in Hua Mark, in the capital. They found the three Iranians during the search.
Police have identified five Iranian nationals as suspects in the February 14 blasts.
Saeib Morabi, who lost both legs in small bomb blasts he allegedly carried out, is still in hospital, while Mohammad Hazai, 42, is in police custody.
Masoud Seda Ghatzadeh is now held by police in Malaysia, pending likely extradition to Thailand, while suspected bomb-maker Javad Nikkahfard is on the run and Rohanni Laila, suspected as being a gang member responsible for logistics, has reportedly returned to Iran.
Thai national police chief Priewpan Damapong said there would be an extension of several days to Ghatzadeh’s first 14-day period of detention, which expired yesterday.
A court session in Malaysia to hear the Thai authorities’ request to send him back to the Kingdom had not begun, and no definite schedule for such a hearing was known yet, he said.
Priewpan said he had not discussed the handover of Ghatzadeh with Royal Malaysia Police chief Tan Sri Ismail Omar during a ceremony at Thai police headquarters to present his opposite number with a royal decoration.
Meanwhile, a meeting held yesterday at the National Security Council agreed to integrate crime-prevention intelligence by the police and the military’s defence intelligence service to provide a better overall intelligence service and anti-terrorism operations.
Deputy Prime Minister Cha-lerm Yoobamrung was handed the integral role of overseeing the work of both intelligence branches.
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