Gen Chaiyasit Shinawatra, a former supreme commander and a cousin of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has admitted he knew one of the suspects in the grenade attack on the Criminal Court, saying the man had once asked him for charity.
The former supreme commander was linked to the incident by Mahahin Khunthong, one of the two suspects. The other suspect is Yutthana Yenpinyo.
Mr Mahahin told police that Natthapat Onming, his girlfriend, knew Gen Chaiyasit and Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, the former metropolitan police chief.
Gen Chaiyasit admitted knowing Mr Yutthana, who he said once came to see him and asked for money and food.
However, he denied any involvement in the grenade attack, saying there had been an attempt to link him to the incident.
Gen Chaiyasit also denied as untrue Mr Mahahin's claim that a woman who was a girlfriend of Mr Yutthana, the other suspect, used to work as his security guard.
He said he had male guards and did not need to use female guards.
Gen Chaiyasit said he was ready to explain this to investigators, and would hold a press conference at his home on Khlong 4 in Rangsit area later today.