Korn's stepson gets bail after cocaine bust
The South Bangkok Criminal Court released a stepson of former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij on bail on Friday, a day after he was arrested in a taxi with a small amount of cocaine.
The court approved a temporary release of Phanthit Mahapaoraya, 27, after he placed Bt10,000 as a guarantee.
The court ordered him to report to the court on June 21.
Phanthit was arrested at 4am on Thursday by Thonglor police at a checkpoint at Ocean Tower 1 on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Khlong Toey district.
Police said they found a small zip-lock bag containing 0.9 grams of cocaine in his trouser pocket.
Phanthit admitted to Thonglor police that he bought the drug from a friend, who he is not close to, at a restaurant in Ratchadamri and took some of the drugs in the toilet. He allegedly said he planned to take the rest at home.
Police said they had yet to interrogate four more witnesses and wait for a lab test to confirm the quality of the drug.
He was charged with having cocaine, which carries a jail term of up to five years and a fine of Bt50,000 if there is less than 100 grams.