Thai military officers probed for lese-majeste

By Max Constant

BANGKOK

Thailand's junta chief cum-prime minister has admitted that two Thai military officers are under suspicion of involvement in a high-profile lese-majeste, according to local media Thursday.

“The investigation is under way," Chan-ocha replied curtly to local reporters asking about the involvement of a general and a colonel, who have not been publicly identified.

The duo are suspected under Article 112 of the Criminal Code -- the lese majeste law -- for making false claims about the Thai monarchy for personal benefit.

They have been linked to two royally sponsored cycling events “Bike for Mom”, which took place Aug. 11, and “Bike for Dad” planned for Dec. 11 -- nationwide cycling tours in honour of the aging king and queen.

Reports published earlier this week in at least four newspapers quoted deputy police chief Sriwara Ransibhramanakul as saying that “40 to 50 military officers” could be involved in the case, but he affirmed Wednesday that he had been misquoted.

Details of the probe remain murky and local media have been asked by authorities to only relay official statements.

The Bangkok Post, however, reported Thursday that the two suspected officers had been implicated by Suriyan Sucharitpolwong --- a well-known fortune teller arrested last month with his assistant Jirawong Watthanathewasilp -- and Police Maj. Prakrom Warunprapa, who allegedly committed suicide in his cell Oct. 24.

The post quoted an unnamed police source as saying that the suspected army colonel had solicited money from a private company who had been contracted to produce 100,000 Tee shirts for the “Bike for Dad” event.

According to the source, the contract price was inflated so money could be given to the intermediaries, including the suspected colonel.

The Post and several newspapers also reported Thursday that the colonel has already fled Thailand and gone into hiding in Myanmar; The Nation saying footage from security cameras showed him crossing the border at Mae Sot-Myawaddy crossing point Oct. 31.

The main suspect in the case, Sujaritpolwong, who enjoyed close relationships with members of the junta which seized power in May last year, was an adviser to an organizing sub-committee for “Bike for Mom”.

According to police sources, he played on his alleged royal connections to extort 100 million baht ($2.81 million) from a major cycling company in relation to “Bike for Dad”.

The company, whose name has not been made public, alerted the police in mid-October, which led to the arrests.