Sunday, 1 May 2011

Wanted red shirt nabbed at border

http://www.bangkokpost.com/

via CAAI

FORMER MAGAZINE EDITOR CLAIMS TO KNOW NOTHING OF LESE MAJESTE CHARGE

Published: 1/05/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

SA KAEO : A key red shirt supporter has been arrested at the Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint trying to cross into Cambodia.

HELPING US WITH INQUIRIES: The DSI will oppose bail for Somyot Prueksakasemsuk

Police yesterday arrested Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, executive editor of the now-defunct Voice of Thaksin magazine, who has been on the run from a lese majeste charge.

Mr Somyot, 50, a key member of the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, is wanted under an arrest warrant sought by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on a charge of offending the monarchy.

Officials at the checkpoint alerted DSI headquarters in Bangkok around 1.30pm yesterday after Mr Somyot presented his passport to immigration officers as the tried to cross the border to Cambodia.

Mr Somyot told immigration staff that he had no idea he was wanted on the lese majeste charge, or he would have reported to police and fought the case in court.

He was detained under the emergency decree enforced by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation for his involvement in the red shirt political violence in June last year.

He was released on June 13 on the court's order after the red shirt protest ended on May 19.

However, the DSI later filed charges of lese majeste in connection with his running of the magazine.

He said he ran a tourist business in Cambodia and regularly went there to look after his business interest.

Mr Somyot was taken to the DSI in Bangkok for further questioning, said DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit.

Mr Somyot was accused of running several websites containing content that allegedly offended the monarch.

Mr Tharit said the DSI would oppose bail for Mr Somyot during the interrogation process and would ask the Criminal Court tomorrow to detain him.

Meanwhile, police have arrested Srayuth Thanok, 32, the owner of a building where authorities found a large quantity of M79 grenade launchers in March last year.

Mr Srayuth was arrested in Muang district of Nakhon Phanom yesterday.

On March 13 last year, police raided a company in Samut Prakan and found 600 parts for M79 launchers and 5,000 more parts buried in front of the office entrance.

The company belongs to Mr Srayuth, according to police.

The seizure was made amid a spate of M79-related attacks in Bangkok. Mr Srayuth denied any involvement with the weapons cache.

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