Five more civilians arrested in probe into allegedly corrupt Thai police

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Five more civilians arrested in probe into allegedly corrupt Thai police

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 27 November, 2014, 9:32pm
UPDATED : Friday, 28 November, 2014, 3:30am

Agence France-Presse in Bangkok

Police Chief Somyot Pumpunmuang inspects rare Buddha artifacts seized at the home of senior police officer Pongpat Chayapan. Photo: EPA

Five more civilians have been arrested as part of a major corruption probe into a network of senior Thai police officers who are also accused of defaming the king, authorities said, bringing the total number of those caught up in the scandal to 17.

The investigation - a rare move against the kingdom's top brass - has already led to the downfall of three senior officers.

Pongpat Chayapun, the head of Thailand's elite Central Investigation Bureau, his deputy Kowit Vongrongrot and marine police chief Boonsueb Praithuen have been accused by Thai authorities of running a corrupt patronage network that allegedly netted them a fortune. The trio have also been charged under the kingdom's lese majeste law in which anyone convicted of insulting the king faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Investigators accuse the three senior officers of making "false claims" about the monarchy in order to demand bribes. National police spokesman Lieutenant General Prawut Thavornsiri said a further five civilians were arrested on Wednesday.

"Based on our investigations we have found that there are more people making false claims about the monarchy to demand bribes, illegally detain people and extort them," he said. None of the five people have yet been charged under Thailand's royal defamation law.

"They are under interrogation and if we find clear evidence we will add lese majeste charges later," Prawut said.

Seven police officers and 10 civilians have now been arrested in the probe, which analysts say is an attempt by the junta to strengthen its hold over police. Twelve have been charged.

The police have come under intense scrutiny by the military, which purged dozens of top officers seen as cosy with the elected former government of Yingluck Shinawatra.