Royal chamberlain charged on 4 counts

Royal chamberlain charged on 4 counts

Montri Sotangkur (centre) during questioning at Royal Thai Police headquarters. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Montri Sotangkur (centre) during questioning at Royal Thai Police headquarters. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

Police have arrested and formally pressed four charges, including lese majeste, against Montri Sotangkur, a Grand Chamberlain at the Royal Household Bureau, and will oppose bail, national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang said on Thursday.

Mr Montri, who worked for former princess Srirasm, was arrested on Wednesday night at an undisclosed location and was taken to the Crime Suppression Division for initial inquiries, Pol Gen Somyot told a press conference after questioning the 54-year-old suspect. 

Mr Montri was wanted on four charges relating to lese majeste, including demanding bribes and abuse of authority for self-interest, under arrest warrants issued by the Central Criminal Court and the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. 

Montri is escorted to police headquarters on Thursday. (photo by Wassayos Ngamkham)

Pol Gen Somyot said Mr Montri had acknowledged the charges but had not entered a plea.

He would face further investigation at the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the inquiry was expected to continue into the night as there were four charges. 

Pol Gen Somyot said investigators would ask the court to reject any bail request when seeking court approval to further detain him on Friday, on the grounds the accused could try to flee, tamper with evidence or threaten witnesses.

Mr Montri is accused of using his royal association in 2011 to demand a seat on the boards of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and CAT Telecom Plc and to demand more than 5 million baht from land owners for land purchases in the Thong Lor, Bang Rak, Thung Song Hong and Bang Sue areas.

He is believed to be part of the criminal network of former Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayapan, the sacked chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, according to Pol Gen Somyot.

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