PHUKET: Officers at Chalong Police Station on Phuket are proceeding with the case against five soldiers and five other people who allegedly abducted and held a Ukranian couple against their will last week.
Phuket Provincial Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for all 10, which means the accused will have to proceed to the police station to acknowledge the charges or face arrest.
A senior Army officer has said that the initial arrests were a misunderstanding and that the soldiers were helping to mediate settlement of an issue over an outstanding debt. Mediation of such matters usually takes place through the Phuket court system or at police stations.
Chalong police yesterday took Ukrainian couple Maryna Iermakova, 32, and Igor Iermakov, 37, to the safe house where they say they were held against their will. The couple reenacted aspects of their detention.
Five of those involved were released on Saturday on bail of 100,000 baht each: Prawat Eadyao, 36, Miss Oranuch Tiyapongpattana, 40, Kemtichai Pansao, 32, Bandan Innmang, 35, and Somporn Chaisit, 58.
The five soldiers - Sergeant Kachepong Boonmee, 43, Sergeant Wichiern Suknoon, 42, Lance Corporal Sumit Choibamrung, 49, Ritthichai Promtongkeaw, 22, and Pisit Keawwihok, 26 - were set free without bail but will now have to report back to the police station to acknowledge the charges.
Maryna Iermakova went to Chalong Police Station and told officers that she and her husband were being held against their will while demands were being made for $500,000 for their release.
As a result of Mrs Iermakova's information, Chalong police rounded up all 10 people when a convoy of cars arrived at a Chalong bank branch to supervise the withdrawal of a large amount of cash.
Phuket Provincial Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for all 10, which means the accused will have to proceed to the police station to acknowledge the charges or face arrest.
A senior Army officer has said that the initial arrests were a misunderstanding and that the soldiers were helping to mediate settlement of an issue over an outstanding debt. Mediation of such matters usually takes place through the Phuket court system or at police stations.
Chalong police yesterday took Ukrainian couple Maryna Iermakova, 32, and Igor Iermakov, 37, to the safe house where they say they were held against their will. The couple reenacted aspects of their detention.
Five of those involved were released on Saturday on bail of 100,000 baht each: Prawat Eadyao, 36, Miss Oranuch Tiyapongpattana, 40, Kemtichai Pansao, 32, Bandan Innmang, 35, and Somporn Chaisit, 58.
The five soldiers - Sergeant Kachepong Boonmee, 43, Sergeant Wichiern Suknoon, 42, Lance Corporal Sumit Choibamrung, 49, Ritthichai Promtongkeaw, 22, and Pisit Keawwihok, 26 - were set free without bail but will now have to report back to the police station to acknowledge the charges.
Maryna Iermakova went to Chalong Police Station and told officers that she and her husband were being held against their will while demands were being made for $500,000 for their release.
As a result of Mrs Iermakova's information, Chalong police rounded up all 10 people when a convoy of cars arrived at a Chalong bank branch to supervise the withdrawal of a large amount of cash.
I am so relieved to see that the rule of law will prevail in a very serious case signalling a bleak future.
Posted by Me Barroso on December 22, 2014 11:38