Prawn farm owner arrested

PHUKET TOWN: The owner of the Wachara Prawn Farm in Pa Khlok, Somsak Wongsawanond, 36, from Songkhla, reported to police in Phuket Town Police Station last night after a warrant was issued for his arrest on one charge of illegal possession of a weapon and another of discharging a weapon in a public area. The warrant was issued last week after police investigating the murder of Pa Khlok resident and environmental activist Jurin Rachapol unearthed evidence that, a week before Jurin was killed, Somsak had fired a pistol in the air six times in the same forest where the murder took place. Somsak, who denies the charges, was accompanied to the police station by Pol Lt Gen Boonpen Bampenboon, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok; the Police Commissioner for Region 8, Lt Gen Paisarn Tangjaitrong; the Governor of Phuket, Pongpayome Vasaputi, and the Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks. He is being held in a cell at the Provincial Court while investigations continue. An application by his lawyer for bail was refused.