Mother of detained Thai engineer arrives in Cambodia, verdict expected Tuesday

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Dec 7 (TNA) – The mother of the Thai employee detained in Cambodia on spy charges arrived in Cambodia ahead of the court ruling on the case expected on Tuesday.

Simarak Na Nakhon Panom was accompanied by Deputy Director General Madurapochana Ittarong of the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Department of Consular Affairs.

Mrs Simarak said that she hoped for a positive result from the Cambodian court ruling on the case of her son Siwarak Chutipong, but she is also prepared for a negative outcome.

She insisted that the decision to change lawyers was advised by Mr Siwarak’s friends in Cambodia and was not a political ‘game’ or ploy. The mother said she will do whatever she can to help her son as soon as possible. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs understood her position, she said, and didn’t blame her for not working with the lawyer selected by the ministry.

Meanwhile, Ms Madurapochana said the ministry continued providing assistance to help Mr Siwarak. She said she is due to meet the newly-appointed lawyer at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh Monday afternoon.

The court is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday, she said, and if Mr Siwarak is found guilty, she will then talk to the lawyer to determine what to do next. She also asked permission for Mrs Simarak to visit her son on Monday but has not yet received an answer from the Khmer officials.

Opposition Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit saw Mrs Simarak off at Suvarnabhumi Airport and showed her a draft of a letter by former prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to submit requesting a royal amnesty if her son is found guilty.

The draft will be considered in a Puea Thai meeting, first scrutinising legal details and then translating it into Khmer and English.

Mr Prompong said he showed her the draft letter to confirm that the Puea Thai party is sincerely ready to help and he believed the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also giving her full support.

Mrs Simarak also asked Mr Prompong to contact ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra through his former legal advisor Noppadon Pattama to help her son.

Mr Siwarak, an employee of Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS), was arrested by Khmer police nearly a month ago on charges of passing information on the flight details of Mr Thaksin to Thai diplomats in Phnom Penh. (TNA)