Mastermind of court attack reportedly in Australia

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Police will seek the extradition of a man suspected of masterminding the hand-grenade attack on the Criminal Court last week, who is also wanted for allegedly committing lese majeste and failing to report to the junta, Royal Thai Police commander Gen Somyot Poompanmuang said yesterday.

Suspect Manoon or Anek Chaichana, who is also known by the alias Anek San Francisco, has reportedly been living in Australia since avoiding arrest.

Gen Somyot said police were also looking for another suspect, Wirasak Towangjon, also known by the alias Yai Pattaya, who is also reportedly on the run abroad.

The military yesterday handed over to police four more suspects allegedly behind the hand grenade attack, after the first four suspects were handed over on Friday for their seven-day detention period.

14 suspects under investigation

The four men have been identified as Sansern Sri-unruen, Charnwit Jariyanukool, Wichai Yoosuk and Naraphat Luaphol.

There are 14 suspects either in custody or wanted on arrest warrants issued by a military court.

The eight in custody have been charged with terrorism and criminal conspiracy and will be put in military custody again under martial law when police are done with their initial interrogation.

Citing details collected during police questioning, Gen Somyot said all eight suspects knew Suphaphorn Mit-arak, or “Dear”, who police learned had been discussing the attack with Mahahin Khunthong, the driver of the motorcycle used in the attack, when they discovered their Line conversations on his mobile phone.

The military will hand Dear and three other suspects including another woman, Wassana Butdee, to police on Wednesday, Gen Somyot said.

“The suspects have communicated through various channels, exchanging information and jointly planning the attack, leading to a conclusion that they were all in the same group,” he added.

Police are gathering evidence against members of this network, which included both those in command and at an operative level, he said.

Tracking the records of money transaction among the suspects requires police coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Office, he said.

— Phuket Gazette Editors