Manas charged on 13 counts of trafficking-related offences (Updated Thursday)

Army adviser Lt Gen Manas Kongpan has been charged on 13 counts on trafficking and related offences after eight hours of questioning lasting until midnight in which he stood firm in maintaining innocence.

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Thursday noon update

Here is the latest from the Bangkok Post's Wichayant Boonchote reporting from Songkhla

Army 'trafficker' Manas charged on 13 counts

Wichayant Boonchote

Army adviser and suspected human trafficker Manas Kongpan, 58, stood firm in maintaining his innocence during a marathon questioning session overnight, but was later charged on 13 counts on Thursday.

After his surrender at the police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday, Lt Gen Manas was immediately taken to Hat Yai police station in the southern province of Songkhla for interrogation. A forward command post of the regional police branch is housed there.

His questioning lasted from 4pm to midnight. Two teams, police interrogators and public prosecutors, took turns questioning him over the eight hours.

Lt Gen Manas insisted he had nothing to do with the trafficking of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar through southern Thailand to Malaysia.

Army legal officers and soldiers from the 42nd military circle in Hat Yai observed the questioning.

The three-star general was then formally charged on 13 counts, the same as the other 51 suspects in the southern human trafficking case who are in police custody.

The charges include trafficking in persons including children, smuggling of aliens into the country, detaining them, holding them for ransom, committing transnational crime, assaulting victims, and concealing their bodies.

Police interrogators denied his request for temporary release. He was kept in an interrogation room at the Hat Yai police station because police have a deal with the military and not put a military suspect in uniform in a cell.

On Thursday police were to seek permission from the local Na Thawi court to extend the general's period of detention.

Police have 84 suspects in the human trafficking case so far, with 52 of them now in custody and 32 others still at large.

Authorities are prosecuting them after finding many live and dead Muslim migrants, graves and detention camps in a border mountain range in Songkhla province over a month ago. Malaysian authorities have also found graves on their side close to the border and they are being examined.

Thursday morning update

Here are a few more details from this morning's Bangkok Post

Senior army adviser Lt Gen Manas Kongpan has denied all the allegations, said national deputy police chief Aek Angsananont.

According to the deputy police chief, Lt Gen Manas will be held in police custody for 48 hours, after which police will have to seek permission from the Na Thawi court (in Songkhla) to keep him in detention.

The suspect may ask to be released on bail, using his army rank as a guarantee, said Pol Gen Aek, adding that Lt Gen Manas had the right to submit his request directly to police investigators.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Manas has received some welcome words of support from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

"As far as I know, Lt Gen Manas has always been hardworking and done a good job. He has worked to achieve many things for Thailand," Gen Prawit said.

Lt Gen Manas's alleged misconduct was unrelated to his military work, Gen Prawit said.

Wednesday afternoon update

Lt-Gen Manas surrenders to police on trafficking charges

Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, wearing his army uniform, arrived at national police headquarters in Bangkok shortly before noon today to turn himself in to faces charges for his alleged involvement in the human trafficking of Rohingya.

He was questioned for about 10 minutes before he was taken away. He is reportedly now on his way to Songkhla where his arrest warrant was issued.

Wednesday update

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Aek Angsananont has just announced that Lt Gen Manas Kongpan has promised to turn himself in this morning – at 11am.

Here's a Wednesday morning update from our military affairs reporter.

Manas fails to turn himself in

Army officer vows to fight trafficking rap

Wassana Nanuam

The army lieutenant general wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the human trafficking of Rohingya has said he is innocent and is prepared to defend himself in court.

However, as of early Wednesday, Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, a senior expert in the army who now has a warrant out for his arrest, had still not turned himself in to police despite telling reporters Tuesday afternoon he was on his way to Padang Besar police station.

"I'd like to ask society not to judge me as though I'm already guilty. They should weigh information from both sides and wait until the court judgement," he said in a telephone interview.

"I beg for justice and I'm willing to cooperate with authorities. No matter what the court ruling is, I will respect it."

He denied rumours of meeting with army commander Udomdej Sitabutr Tuesday, saying instead that he was travelling to Padang Besar police station in Songkhla province's Sadao district.

According to Nakhon Si Thammarat police commander Pol Maj Gen Kiatipong Khaosam-ang, Lt Gen Manas was earlier ordered to remain at the 4th Region army headquarters in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Lt Gen Manas is in the process of turning himself in, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Aek Angsananont.

National police chief Somyot Poompunmuang said he was confident Lt Gen Manas would not attempt to flee the country to avoid prosecution because he is a high-ranking military official.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha affirmed he will let the investigation run its course without interfering.

Tuesday' story

Warrant out for army 'trafficker'

Bank details found in raid implicate Manas

POST REPORTERS

The army is seeking to suspend from duty a senior soldier who faces an arrest warrant over his alleged involvement in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants to jungle camps in the South.

The suspension request was made by army chief Udomdej Sitabutr to the Defence Ministry.

Gen Udomdej announced his request Monday, after learning the Na Thawi Provincial Court in Songkhla on Sunday approved a warrant to arrest Lt Gen Manas Kongpan, a senior army expert, on charges of human trafficking, detaining victims of human trafficking, and holding victims of trafficking for ransom.

Police and the army have been sharing information on the matter for some time, Gen Udomdej said.

"I have made it clear that any army officers who have breached laws must be dealt with," the army chief said.

However, the claim of close cooperation is new. On May 19, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appeared to be angry about allegations that a military officer was behind the southern trafficking. He said he was unaware of any such accusation, and demanded that reporters give him the name of the suspect.

While the strong denials succeeded in quashing most media reports of military involvement, investigations were well under way by a police task force formed to fight trafficking.

Evidence suggesting the senior army officer's involvement was discovered during a raid at a suspect's home in Ranong's Muang district. The evidence included four receipts for transfers to a bank account belonging to the general and a document with the bank account details and the general's name written on it.

Now that the warrant has been issued, Defence Ministry regulations stipulate the soldier must be suspended from duty, said Gen Udomdej, who is also deputy defence minister.

Lt Gen Manas could also be banned from visiting areas where his alleged crimes took place if he is deemed likely to impede police investigations, he said.

Gen Udomdej said he had been aware of police investigations into Lt Gen Manas for some time, but did not reveal them so police could gather enough information to prosecute him.

"If Lt Gen Manas is guilty, the army will give no assistance to him and will conduct a probe to seek further disciplinary punishment," the army chief said.

A panel will be set up from the 4th Army region to carry out the investigation, he said, adding that if Lt Gen Manas is involved in the crimes, he must be dismissed as a state official.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Manas told a military reporter, who reached him by telephone Monday, that he was unaware of the warrant for his arrest. He declined to answer any other questions.

National police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said Lt Gen Manas, 58, was charged with colluding with more than three people to commit human trafficking, helping foreigners to enter the country illegally, detaining victims of human trafficking, and demanding ransoms.

The crimes, the police chief said, took place in Bangladesh, Myanmar, the southern Thai provinces of Phangnga, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Satun, and temporary camps on the Kaew mountain range in tambon Padang Besar in Songkhla's Sadao district, as well as Malaysia.

The trafficking occurred between November 2012 and May 2015, he added.

Deputy national police chief Ek Angsananon, who is responsible for investigations into the trafficking of Rohingya, said Lt Gen Manas had contacted police to surrender.

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