Thai police seek 20 more trafficking suspects
Thai police are seeking 20 more suspects over trafficking of Rohingya migrants in Padang Besar in Thailand after 29 arrest warrants were already issued, reports Bangkok Post.
The hunt for suspects follows the transfer of two assistant district chiefs from nearby Sadao and reports that the district chief is under investigation.
Deputy national police chief Ake Angsananont confirmed 49 people are being sought over the human trafficking scandal which has shocked the country since the discovery of a mass grave on May 1. Of the 49, 11 have already been detained, he said.
The first group of 29 suspects wanted by police includes local politicians, village headmen, assistant village heads and police officers. All of the new suspects are civilians.
Pol Gen Ake said applications for arrest warrants against them have been submitted along with evidence to Na Thawi Provincial Court in Songkhla. Kritsada Boonrach, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, said he signed an order to transfer assistant chiefs Manit Boripat and Chakorn Kongserikul out of the area for failing to tackle illegal activities.
He also has set up a panel to investigate district chief Thaweewut Sangsiri, who has been in the job for three months, to investigate his involvement in the trafficking ring.
Somyos Angchotiphan, 45, a tourism business operator on Lipe Island turned himself in to Pol Gen Ake, who heads the Rohingya trafficking investigation, in Padang Besar.
Somyos is among the 29 people in the original group wanted by police, but he denied any connection to the crime.
He is a relative of Pajjuban Angchotiphan, a former president of Satun’s provincial administration and an influential figure. On Friday, Muang Padang Besar mayor Banjong Pongpol, suspect of involvement in human trafficking, also surrendered to police.
Following his surrender, a combined task force of more than 200 security, anti-money laundering and revenue officials searched his home and four other places including his resort.
The officials seized boxes of documents at Mr Banjong’s home and four other locations.
Authorities are looking for evidence in connection of his involvement with the Rohingya trafficking ring. Police sources said the documents could be used to request seize of assets of Mr Banjong, estimated to be worth more than 100 million baht.
Pol Gen Ake told a press conference that the seized documents concerned land title deeds, financial matters, receipts and sales of luxury cars. A number of safes were also seized for inspection, he said. Pol Gen Ake said he would ask the Interior Ministry to consider removing Mr Banjong and his deputy, Prasit Lemleh, from their official posts and luxury cars.
Prasit has already turned himself in to police. Pol Cap Suwanee Sawaengpol, deputy chief of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, said Amlo will examine the evidence and the assets of Banjong.
If he is found to have been involved with the human trafficking ring, his assets will be confiscated, she said. Over the past three days, officials have located 117 illegal immigrants 110 males and in the Khao Kaew range that lies between Hat Yai and Rattaphum districts in Songkhla province.
They have been given assistance and taken from the area. in the Khao Kaew range that lies between Hat Yai and Rattaphum districts in Songkhla province. They have been given assistance and taken from the area.
A number of young children are among the rescued immigrants who are now in the custody of authorities. They will stay at a temporary shelter in Rattaphum district while awaiting verification of their nationalities.
They are expected to be classified as Rohingya, Bangladesh, or Myanmar nationals. Aside from nationality and ethnicity, police are checking on their immigration status. Those found to have illegally entered Thailand intentionally will be prosecuted. Those who are victims of a trafficking gang will be helped on a humanitarian basis.