Police considering warrant for Maj-Gen Khattiya

BANGKOK, Jan 22 (TNA) – Thai police may ask court to issue an arrest warrant for army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, a prime suspect in the M79 incident at Royal Thai Army Headquarters, after raids Thursday at his home and that of a close aide produced a number of unauthorised military grade weapons and ammunition in their personal possession.

Gen Khattiya is reportedly in Hat Yai, scheduled to return to Bangkok Friday morning, but  did not turn up at the airport.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont led a search team at Gen Khattiya’s home at the 4th Cavalry Squadron, in the Kiakkai area, and found a hand grenade and handgun with ammunition, as well as a grenade, weapons and a cache of ammunition in his car.

Police detained two men for questioning, Pvt Manaschai Khamporn and Ekkalak Wisetwongsa, who both look after the house.

Meanwhile, another team of police and military raided a military flat at the 3rd Cavalry Squadron nearby, finding a dozen of M79 grenades, as well as other weapons and ammunition, including bombs in a room and inside a vehicle.

The police also detained Sgt-Maj Natthasit Suwanraj, a former close aide of Gen Khattiya, who told police he had worked for Gen Khattiya, but not for the past four years.

Sgt-Maj Nattasit said all weapons and ammunition belonged to him, as he collected military weapons for 20 years, making the purchases in the border province of Sa Kaew.

He said the two spent M79 casings found at his room came from Lopburi and were collected during training. Never, he asserted, did he let anyone borrow from his collection.

Gen Santhan said the raids were a joint action by police and military police. The seized munitions are being checked for links to last week’s grenade attacks.

The police are seeking more evidence before considering to ask the court for an arrest warrant for Gen Khattiya while the trio could face charges for possession of illegal weapons.

Also known as ‘Seh Daeng’, suspect Khattiya was suspended from duty for violating military regulations and was not home Friday morning. He earlier denied any involvement in the attack.

Gen Khattiya said the assailants only wanted media attention and to show their disagreement with the government and some top ranking army officers, and that they had not intended to kill Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda.

He said the attack was an unprecedented incident and that Army chief Anupong and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan should take responsibility by resigning from the posts.

Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd confirmed a grenade incident took place last week and affected the sixth floor of army headquarters, but the projectile was not aimed at the army chief’s office. However, the raid was conducted to seek evidence.

Col Sansern said that Army ordnance officers had not yet confirmed the type of grenade, but it may have been fired at night as no one it.

The spokesman said the attack may be aimed at making confusion, not harming senior army officers.

A grenade was reportedly fired at the Defence Ministry the same day but a defence spokesman denied the report. (TNA)