Officials charged with helping significant figure retreat after slaying of officer at his home
PUBLISHED: 20 Sep 2023 at 18 : 41
Six police officials dismissed from the army for helping Praween” Kamnan Nok” Chankhlai escape arrest following the fatal shooting of a police at his home have been moved to the Bangkok Remand Prison.
The Hanuman special task force of the Crime Suppression Division ( CSD) on Wednesday transferred the officers from the Samut Songkhram Central Prison, said Pol Maj Gen Montree, the CSD commander.
They were arrested on charges of violating Part 157 of the Criminal Code for dereliction of duty, Part 184 for helping criminals escape punishment and Area 189 for concealing information.
The exchange took place under strong protection after the Royal Thai Police Office ordered that the CSD taking over the management of the case.
The six officers are Pol Maj Kiatisak Somsuk, 52, an inspector at the Krathum Baen police station in Samut Sakhon, Pol Capt Natthapol Nakkorn, 59, deputy inspector at highway police station 1, Pol Capt Narongsak Taeng – ampai, 58, deputy inspector at highway police station 1, Pol Lt Nimit Salidkul, 57, deputy traffic inspector at Muang district police station in Nakhon Pathom, Pol Lt Prasarn Rodpol, 58, deputy inspector at highway police station 1, and Pol Sub / Lt Sansarn Srisawat, 55, deputy inspector at highway police station 1.
They were dismissed from the pressure over their alleged role in the wake of the deadly shooting at a dinner party at the residence of Mr Praween, then a kamnan( tambon key ) in Nakhon Pathom, early this month. They were accused of helping the suspected shooter and Mr Praween to leave.
Mr Praween, 35, is also being detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison. He is a prime suspect in the death of Pol Maj Sivakorn Saibua, a bridge police agent, on the day of Sept 6. Around 30 officers apparently attended the event.
According to earlier information, Pol Maj Sivakorn had rejected Mr Praween’s ask for the development of his brother, a highway officer. Gunman Thananchai Manmak, an associate of Mr Praween, eventually fired several bullets from close range at Pol Maj Sivakorn. He died and some stray shots injured Pol Lt Col Wasin Panpee of Highway Police Sub – section 2.
The gun was killed two days later in an exchange of fire with authorities in Kanchanaburi, and Mr Praween eventually surrendered to law.
The Bangkok Remand Prison has eight areas but the six officers may be held in a diverse area from Mr Praween, said a source familiar with the case.