DSI postpones seeking court approval to detain two bomb suspects

http://www.mcot.net/

via Khmer NZ

BANGKOK, July 6 - Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI ) on Tuesday said it would delay seeking a court approval for the detention of two suspects in Bhumjaithai Party head office bombing who were deported from Cambodia as investigation on the case is not yet complete.

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit remarked after Cambodian officials handed over the suspects in the hiring of persons to carry out the bombing to the Thai consulate in Phnom Penh Monday.

Varissareeya Boonsom and Korbchai Boonplod fled to Cambodia on June 23 after a bomb hidden in a fruit pushcart was remotely detonated near the Bhumjaithai party head office the day before.

Three suspects of the case are already in police custody. One confessed he was hired to leave a fruit vendor's pushcart near the party office.

Mr Tharit said the department has investigated the two detainees but could not take them to the crime scene reenactment as they denied being involved in the bombing.

Thailand's police customarily take confessed wrongdoers to the scene of their crime to allow media to television and photograph a reenactment of the crime.

The permitted detention of the three men arrested earlier expires Wednesday and the DSI will seek court approval for further detention tomorrow, Mr Tharit said.

The DSI will postpone its request for the two suspects detention to Wednesday morning as well.

The DSI chief however said the department will oppose bail for the defendents for fear that the two accused might escape prosecution as the charges carry a heavy penalty.

Initially they will be charged for producing explosive devices, causing an explosion and mutually committing terrorism, according to Mr Tharit.

The DSI chief added the investigators also found a notebook in Mrs Varissareeya's baggage with a handwritten bomb-making formula. She conceded that the notebook belongs to her, but she said the bomb notes are not hers.

According to the initial investigation, both suspects confirmed they are Red Shirt supporters. Mrs Varissareeya worked for former Thai Rak Thai party executives who are banned from politics for five years and she reportedly attended every Red Shirt rally.

Mrs Varissareeya claimed many Red Shirt co-leaders are now in Cambodia but she knows only Payap Pankate and Kanyapak Maneechak, 'DJ Aom,' a leader of pro Red Shirt 'Chiang Mai 51 group'.

She earlier told Thai police that she only sheltered the bomb suspects but did not know that they made explosives in her home. She said she was betrayed.

The accused said she was arrested by Cambodian police after a hotel employee notified her to leave her room to meet Mr Payap and DJ Aom.

In an exclusive interview to a Thai News Agency reporter on Tuesday, Mrs Varissareeya said she fled to Cambodia as she wanted to see other Red Shirt co-leaders who reportedly fled to the neighbouring country.

She said she was not angry with the accusation of key Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan who said she and Mr Korbchai are government spies.

"I'm not angry with Mr Jatuporn as the protest leaders do not know all of their supporters," said Mrs Warisriya. "I undertand that Mr Jatuporn must protect all Red Shirt supporters and has to say so."

"I don't expect that I will get help from Red Shirt people as now they are powerless to help me. That's why I went to Cambodia," she said.

Mrs Varissareeya asked those in the judicial process to ensure justice for any case involving the Reds.

"I want my case to be set as a precedent for being given fairness and not be framed," she stated.

She also urged the government to give more space for Red Shirt movement to make their voices heard if it really wants national reconciliation. (MCOT online news)