Police key appeals to the general public for information.
PUBLISHED: 23 Oct 2024 at 05: 48
Before the statute of limitations expires on Friday, federal police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet has demanded a last-ditch search to track down all the suspects in the case involving the Tak Bai murder in 2004.
With just two days until the statute of limitations expires, Pol Gen Kitrat updated the arrest initiatives on Tuesday.
More than 80 people were reportedly killed in the incidents that followed the arrest of protesters in Narathiwat province’s Tak Bai region and their subsequent transportation to a military service in Pattani state.
The murder resulted in 14 offenders being identified.
Seven, including Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, then the Fifth Army State’s captain, Pol Lt-Gen Wongkot Maneerin, next secretary federal police commander, and Maj Gen Chalermchai Wirunpeth, then the 5th Infantry Regiment’s commander, have been indicted by the Narathiwat Provincial Court in a case filed by the victims ‘ families. They have even issued arrest warrants.
However, the attorney-general also filed a case against eight offenders with the Pattani Provincial Court on Sept 12. Both situations feature a suspect named as Maj Gen Chalermchai.
Pol Gen Kitrat stated that he was traveling to Provincial Police Region 9 to expedite the deciphering of all offenders before the event is over.
He claims that in order to do so, global organizations like Interpol have collaborated on dark notice issues and issued arrest warrants.
Extension of legislation
According to Pol Gen Kitrat, the authorities carried out 180 surveillance monitoring and 29 searches to stop suspects from emigrating to the land, as directed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The public was also urged by the federal police chief to immediately inform the authorities if they have any information about the suspects ‘ locations.
According to him, an investigation revealed that some suspects had already eluded the land before permits were issued and had no clear information about where they were right now.
When questioned about potential legal changes that might increase the statute of limitations, Pol Gen Kitrat claimed that the officers are only concerned with making arrests within the current authorized deadline and that they have no bearing in politics.
He added that his police officers were given instructions never to quit the searches.
Meanwhile, Phumtham Wechayachai, the minister of defense, stated to reporters that a legal team is considering requesting a royal order to lengthen the detention ‘ date.
There are no “double criteria” in the legal system, according to Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, between cases involving state leaders and those involving citizens.
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