Lawyer says petitioner is still preparing documents to submit to police in high-profile case
PUBLISHED : 16 Feb 2024 at 18:10
High-profile petitioner Srisuwan Janya has asked for another week to submit documents to defend himself against accusations of extorting money from the head of the Rice Department.
Mr Srisuwan and his two alleged accomplices — Yoswaris Chuklom, also known as Jeng Dokjik; and his secretary Phimnattha Chiraphutthiphak — were scheduled to present their documents to police investigators handling the case on Friday, but all of them postponed, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Srisuwan’s lawyer told police that his client would postpone providing documents until Feb 23. Mr Yoswaris and Ms Phimnattha postponed their submissions until Feb 26.
Mr Yoswaris is a member of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart (United Thai Nation) party, part of the governing coalition. Ms Phimnattha was a former MP candidate for the party.
Mr Srisuwan was arrested during a sting operation at his house in Pathum Thani on Jan 26, when 500,000 baht was delivered there by undercover police. Mr Yoswaris and Ms Phimnattha were arrested later the same day.
The arrests followed a complaint lodged with Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police by Natthakit Khongthip, director-general of the Rice Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
According to the complaint, Mr Srisuwan and his two co-accused attempted to make Mr Natthakit pay them 3 million baht or face falsified corruption charges. All denied the charges.
After questioning, the three suspects were released on bail on a surety of 400,000 baht each.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said investigators still had several issues to question Mr Srisuwan about. However, under the law the suspect has the right to decide whether he wants to make a statement or not.
A fourth suspect in the case, Ekkalak Wareechon, was arrested at his house in Khlong Sam Wa district of Bangkok on Feb 1. It is not known if or when Mr Ekkalak plans to provide police with documents in his defence, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat.
On Thursday, Mr Srisuwan’s wife Naphatpapha Janya reported to ACD investigators to acknowledge charges related to the case against her husband after a summons was issued.
Police said Ms Naphatpapha was present during the delivery of the 500,000 baht at her home, and they wanted to determine how much she knew about the activities of her husband.