Pongpat hospitalised; B1m on offer for information on 'Sia Jo'

(Latest: Pongpat hospitalised.) National police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang has offered a one million baht reward for anyone who gives the police information that leads to the arrest of the alleged oil-smuggling ring leader in the South. More arrests made, more assets discovered.

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Sahachai "Sia Jo" Chiansoemsi, a fugitive Narathiwat businessman convicted of document forgery and wanted for a string of crimes, including bribery in the Pongpat police scandal talks with a DSI officer near his home in the South earlier this year. (Bangkok Post file photo).

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Stressed Pongpat, Kowit hospitalised

Former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan has been hospitalised for stress. APICHIT JINAKUL

Stress has put jailed former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan and former deputy CIB chief Kowit Wongrungroj in the hospital.

The two former officers, detained at Bangkok Remand Prison on lese majeste and other criminal charges, were admitted to the Corrections Department hospital Tuesday for treatment of high blood pressure brought on by stress, Voice TV reported.

Prison chief Aryut Sinthoppan said it was normal practice at the prison as the two suspects needed urgent treatment. They would be brought back to their cells when their conditions improved, he said.

Mr Aryut said use of security cameras to keep the suspects under watch is also a normal practice under prison regulations.

The two suspects have been cooperative, he added.

Morning story

Police offer B1m for information on fugitive 'Sia Jo'

Post Reporters

National police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang has offered a one million baht reward for anyone who gives the police information that leads to the arrest of the alleged oil-smuggling ring leader in the South, said police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said the amount would be paid to anyone who can help the police capture the fugitive convict Sahachai "Sia Jo" Chiansoemsi, a well-known southern businessman.

Sahachai allegedly paid bribes to Pol Maj Gen Boonsueb Phraithuean, former chief of the Marine Police Division, one of six police officials arrested in connection with the scandal linked to former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapan and several state officials including those in the justice system.

Sahachai escaped from detention with the help of a police officer, shortly after he was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for forging documents at the Pattani Provincial Court on Oct 9. He also faces an arrest warrant for oil smuggling.

According to Pol Gen Somyot, more than 20,000 valuable items have been confiscated from Pol Lt Gen Pongpat's group. He said Pol Lt Col Songrak Kunsri, deputy chief of Crime Suppression Division sub-division 6, who disappeared on Monday last week is believed to be connected to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat's network.

Pol Lt Col Songrak failed to report to his superior as requested and disappeared after returning from a work visit to the United States.

Police and forest officials raided an antique shop on Chaeng Watthana Road in Pakkret, Nonthaburi on Monday, and found 2,774 planks of wood in its warehouse as well as a number of antiques.

Police are examining the objects as they suspect the objects are linked to Sawong Mungthieng, one of the suspects in Pol Lt Gen Pongpat's group.

This massive 1.8 metre by 1 metre safe was empty when it was finally opened Muang Thong Thani yesterday. APICHIT JINAKUL

Meanwhile, police Monday found nothing after searching two of three large safe boxes found in a house linked to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat in a Maung Thong Thani housing estate. The police will check the last box today. (The third safe has now been found to be empty as well.)

Meanwhile, one more suspect allegedly linked to Pol Lt Gen Pongpat turned himself in to police Monday, police said. Witthaya Theskhunthot brings the total number of suspects in custody to 20. He is among five suspects wanted on several criminal charges including citing the monarchy to obtain benefits and money from others, illegally collecting debts, illegally detaining people and extortion. On Saturday night, two other members of the group — Natthanan Thanawech and Chalach Phothirach — turned themselves in.

Witthaya Theskhunthot is brought to a press conference at the Metropolitan Police Bureau after turning himself in to police. PORNPROM SATRABHAYA

Two soldiers wanted by police, Sgt Nathakorn Yasri and Sgt Thiraphong Chochampi, on Monday failed to turn up at the Metropolitan Police Bureau despite having earlier promised to turn themselves in. They were reported to have been in custody at their military units.

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