Chalerm questioned over missing guns

BANGKOK (AFP): Police questioned Thai politician Chalerm Yoobamrung and his wife Lamnao for two hours today in connection with the murder of a police officer for which their son, Duongchalerm, is the chief suspect, officials said. Chalerm and Lamnao, were questioned separately over the disappearance of two handguns from their home, one of which is believed to have been used in the officer’s murder on October 27 in the Twenty Club. Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Duongchalerm, who has been on the run since the shooting. Under Thai law, licensed gun owners must notify the police within 15 days of a weapon going missing or face a fine of up to 1,000 baht. “I don’t know whether [the guns] are lost or not; I was just unable to find them after I moved to a new house,” Chalerm told reporters as he arrived at a Bangkok police station for the questioning. Chalerm has denied intentionally withholding information about the guns from the police, and has vowed to fight if he is formally charged. “I didn’t inform police because I wasn’t sure whether they were lost. And if I found them later, I would be [in trouble] for filing false information,” he said. Lt Gen Noppadol Sombunsap told reporters after the interrogation that police were confident they would wrap up the case against Duongchalerm by Thursday, when they will submit their findings to the court. He added that Chalerm had told police he was trying to persuade Duongchalerm to surrender, indicating the politician knew his son’s whereabouts.