Chalong bomber investigation downgraded

CHALONG: The investigation into bombings that injured two Burmese workers and severely damaged three houses in Chalong on November 28 last year has been downgraded, Chalong Police Superintendent Col Chalit Kaewyarat has said.

The announcement came during the Security Committee Provincial Monthly Meeting on Friday, when Col Chalit said that nearly eight months after the bombing there was still no strong evidence linking the crime to specific suspects.

The downgrading of the case means that the case will remain open, but active investigation of the crime will halt pending the discovery of new evidence.

Col Chalit told the meeting, “The law requires us to stop further inquiry into a crime if we don’t find enough evidence to present the case to the prosecutor within three months.

“Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit requested that we continue the investigation, but it is now almost eight months and we don’t have sufficient evidence to continue active investigation,” he added.

“We know who did it but we don’t have enough the evidence to take the case to the prosecutor, Gov Niran said. “I am asking the police to please not forget this case because it worries and shocks people that this happened,” he added.

Police believe the blasts were motivated by a land dispute.