Barkar Nash (Page 1,060)

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police have filed another charge against the sacked police officer who is the former husband of accused serial poisoner Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn.

Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, CSD deputy commander, said he went to Region 7 Provincial Police headquarters in Nakhon Pathom on Tuesday and laid the additional charge against Pol Lt Col Withoon Rangsiwuthaporn.

He was charged with helping a suspect avoid being penalised or to get a lighter penalty by damaging, destroying, concealing or taking away evidence of an alleged crime.

Pol Lt Col Withoon had earlier been charged with receiving stolen property, forgery and using forged official documents.

The additional charge was filed against him after investigators from Ban Pong police station in Ratchaburi province found evidence that after the death of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, on April 14, Pol Lt Col  Withoon and Ms Sararat went to visit her ex-husband’s parents in Sukhothai province, after the Songkran Festival.

Ms Sararat took a brandname bag and other property belonging to Siriporn with her to Sukhothai, intending to hide them. She later changed her mind and instead asked Pol Lt Col Withoon’s parents to send them to the officer’s house in Nakhon Pathom.

After receiving the items, Pol Lt Col Withoon took them to Tha Maka district in Kanchanaburi and gave them to Ms Sararat, instead of handing them to police investigating Siriporn’s death.

Ms Sararat then asked her sister-in-law to send the items to a woman called Ms Kaew in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi. Ms Kaew opened the parcel and suspected that the items sent to her might belong to Siriporn. She handed them over to police for examination.

This led to Pol Lt Col Withoon’s being slapped with the additional charge.

Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok. Her arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn.

Siriporn collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had gone with Ms Sararat to release fish for merit-making on April 14. Cyanide was found in her body.

The list of Ms Sararat’s alleged victims has since continued to grow, with many extra charges being filed against her.

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The United Thai Nation Party (UTN) is ready for its role on the opposition benches of the House of Representatives after faring below expectations in Sunday’s general election, deputy leader Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday.

Mr Thanakorn, caretaker PM’s Office minister, said he visited outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House on Monday to give him his moral support.

Gen Prayut is the UTN’s chief strategist and the party’s candidate for prime minister. Unofficial results show UTN won on 36 House seats – 23 in constituencies and 13 on the party list.

Mr Thanakorn said Gen Prayut appeared to be in high spirits when they met.

Asked whether Gen Prayut would now exit politics, Mr Thanakorn said he believed Gen Prayut would do so once the new government was in place, and take a deserved rest. He had long served his country in many positions. Gen Prayut would remain  in the people’s hearts, Mr Thanakorn said.

“Personally, I think it would be good for him to rest. He has been tied to the job for the past eight years. As for myself, I will remain in politics and will continue to seek his advice,” he said.

Mr Thanakorn said he was not sure if Gen Prayut would resign as the party’s chief strategist.

“The UTN will continue to exist. We have more than 30 MPs and the party leader and secretary-general can  handle the party’s affairs. We can work as part of the opposition, to keep check of the government’s performance. No problem,” he said.

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Move Forward Party list MP-elect Nateepat Kulsetasit has resigned an an MP candidate of the party after police arrested her for drink-driving early Tuesday morning

Ms Nateepat told reporters on Tuesday that she apologised to the public and regretted her actions because she had disappointed people and would not be able to vote for the same-sex marriage legislation that she had pushed for.

She said she had met some friends at around 11pm on Monday and had three or four drinks. She denied she resisted a police request for an alcohol breath test.

It was reported that Ms Nateepat, 46, was stopped at a police checkpoint on Prasert Manukit Road in Lat Phrao district of Bangkok. An alcohol breath test showed she had 66 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood, above the threshold of 50mg.

Move Forward unofficially won 152 House seats including 39 list seats in Sunday’s election and is currently in the process of forming a coalition government. Ms Nateepat was ranked 27th on her party’s roster of 100 list candidates.

Ms Nateepat said she remained a member of the party.

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Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, has called on other parties, particularly Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, to support Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party for prime minister and obviate the need for the support of military-appointed senators.

He posted his call on Facebook on Monday after Mr Pita announced he was forming a coalition of six parties, which would now have 310 MPs.

When the joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is called to elect the prime minister, under the 2017 constitution at least 376 votes are needed for his endorsement. This means Mr Pita would need more votes from other parties or from senators.

Mr Srettha said he hoped all parties would show political spirit and adherance to the people’s voice by voting for Mr Pita.

“I, for one, support Mr Pita of the Move Forward Party to take the position with grace,” he said.

Mr Srettha said Move Forward had grown from 81 MPs in 2019 to 152 in 2023. This showed its policies and deologies had been truly accepted by the people. “This phenomenon is undeniably a great change in Thai society,” he said.

He said many parties, particularly Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, had earlier announced their opposition to the 2017 constitution’s empowering of senators to take part in the vote for the prime minister.

“Now it’s time for you to confirm your stand by voting for Mr Pita to be the 30th prime minister in a true democracy, without having to rely on votes from the 250 senators,” he wrote.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remained silent about his political future in the wake of Sunday’s general election after chairing a meeting of the caretaker cabinet on Tuesday.

Reporters asked if he would quit politics or not. He smiled and said, “No comment.”

He was also tightlipped when reporters asked if he would remain in the fight and stay with the United Thai Nation Party.

He declined to comment on the possibility of former opposition party Pheu Thai joining hands with parties in his outgoing government and isolate the Move Forward Party, which won the most House seats.

Emerging after the cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday, Gen Prayut greeted reporters and the public and said his government remained on duty and was doing its best pending the formation of the new government.

He thanked people for their moral support for him and his government over the past years.

He thanked all voters who exercised their right at Sunday’s polls and he congratulated all political parties that received votes.

Gen Prayut said he was happy with the process of forming a new government.

“I am happy with that and would like all Thai people to cooperate and promote unity and stability in the nation, without conflict, and jointly develop the nation,” the prime minister said.

“This is for security, prosperity and sustainability. Adhere to the security of the important institutions of the nation for national development and the future of all Thais,” Gen Prayut said.

The United Thai Nation Party, which has nominated him as its prime ministerial candidate, finished fifth in Sunday’s elections with 36 House seats, compared to the Move Forward Party’s 152 and Pheu Thai’s 141, according to the latest figures.

Thirteen ministers were reported absent from Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. 

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Polite negotiations and kindness are needed for the successful formation of the new government, not the trading of insults, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Tuesday.

He was speaking before going into the meeting of the caretaker cabinet, the first since the May 14 general election, from which 13 ministers were absent on Tuesday.

Mr Wissanu said a new coalition government could be formed, unless those involved began trading insults and were unable to reach agreement.

“The formation of the new government is now the burden of the Move Forward Party, which won the most House seats,” he said.

The 250 senators had the right to also vote for the new prime minister, Mr Wissanu said, and they had differing points of view, but this should be negotiable.

“Any wish can come true when generosity is offered in exchange,” he said.

There would be no political vacuum while the new government was being formed, because the caretaker cabinet was taking care of government business.

Mr Wissanu said the Election Commission would verify the election results in two months. Then the House would be called into session, the parliament president would be elected and would then schedule a joint sitting to vote for the new prime minister.

“If the new prime minister is elected, that will be it. If the election is not concluded wih the first vote, the process will be repeated over and over. There should not be any problems. How can there be any vacuum with the existence of the caretaker government,” Mr Wissanu said.

On Tuesday, 13 cabinet ministers took leave of absence from the weekly meeting. They included caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

Mr Anutin is leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which won the third most House seats at Sunday’s general election. His decision is awaited on the formation of the next government. Mr Jurin on Sunday night resigned as leader of the Democrat Party after it was trounced at the polls.

Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. When reporters asked how he was, he replied that he was the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda said he intended to leave politics. He did not know what Gen Prayut intended to do.

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Police will request arrest warrants from the court for associates of alleged serial killer Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn, who advised and helped her destroy evidence of her crimes, according to the deputy national police chief.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn revealed that he hoped to be able to submit the case to the attorney general later this week.

He also said that police visited Ms Sararat at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok on Monday to conduct more questioning in order to issue arrest warrants for her accomplices.

Pol Gen Surachate added that only a strong case allows the courts to issue warrants, no matter how much public demand there may be. Officers will complete the investigation into Ms Sararat’s 78 million baht’s worth of transactions by tomorrow.

Officers had also brought Ms Sararat’s brother and sister-in-law in for questioning and did not find any links that proved them complicit in the crimes.

“Ms Sararat’s case is solved because of the watertight proof we have. We will let you know if there is any update on new suspects. The timeline might be revealed on Friday,” said Pol Gen Surachate.

He added that Ms Sararat could appoint a new lawyer. However, Thannicha Aeksuwannawat, her lawyer and a long-time friend, will continue to act as her adviser.

Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok. She is four months pregnant. Her arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, of Kanchanaburi.

Siriporn collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had gone with Ms Sararat to release fish for merit-making on April 14. Cyanide was found in her body. The list of her alleged victims has continued to grow.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant for Ms Sararat for allegedly poisoning a 15th victim with cyanide in 2015.

Most victims were linked to the suspect through private saving schemes and financing of cars, Pol Gen Surachate said. “All the dead victims were found to have been with Aem before they died. All the murders were for the purpose of clearing debts,” he said.

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Police will request arrest warrants from the court for associates of alleged serial killer Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn, who advised and helped her destroy evidence of her crimes, according to the deputy national police chief.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn revealed that he hoped to be able to submit the case to the attorney general later this week.

He also said that police visited Ms Sararat at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Bangkok on Monday to conduct more questioning in order to issue arrest warrants for her accomplices.

Pol Gen Surachate added that only a strong case allows the courts to issue warrants, no matter how much public demand there may be. Officers will complete the investigation into Ms Sararat’s 78 million baht’s worth of transactions by Wednesday.

Officers had also brought Ms Sararat’s brother and sister-in-law in for questioning and did not find any links that proved them complicit in the crimes.

“Ms Sararat’s case is solved because of the watertight proof we have. We will let you know if there is any update on new suspects. The timeline might be revealed on Friday,” said Pol Gen Surachate.

He added that Ms Sararat could appoint a new lawyer. However, Thannicha Aeksuwannawat, her lawyer and a long-time friend, will continue to act as her adviser.

Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok. She is four months pregnant. Her arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, of Kanchanaburi.

Siriporn collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had gone with Ms Sararat to release fish for merit-making on April 14. Cyanide was found in her body. The list of her alleged victims has continued to grow.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant for Ms Sararat for allegedly poisoning a 15th victim with cyanide in 2015.

Most victims were linked to the suspect through private saving schemes and financing of cars, Pol Gen Surachate said. “All the dead victims were found to have been with Aem before they died. All the murders were for the purpose of clearing debts,” he said.

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