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A question-answer session with the police colonel who headed the operation to arrest Kamnan Poh.

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A matter of many tip-offs 

Bangkok Post reporter AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK spoke to Pol Col Arthip Taennil, head of the Crime Suppression Division's (CSD) special operations unit, to find out more about the sting operation that led to the arrest of Somchai Khunploem, better known as Kamnan Poh.

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How long did it take authorities to find Somchai before arresting him?

Two months. We started at Ban Saen Suk, Kamnan Poh's house on Bang Saen Beach [in Chon Buri] where we received many tip-offs that he had been there or was seen near the place.

Why didn't he get wind that police were closing in on him?

We have no idea about that. All we received two months ago were tip-offs about his presence in Chon Buri and we then began working on them. One important piece of information was a video clip of a birthday party held for him at Ban Saen Suk on Sept 30, the same day that police received information that he actually phoned someone at the party.

What piece of information made you feel sure he was in Thailand at that time?

Following the Supreme Court's March 12 verdict, more and more information about sightings were being received via the internet. The Central Investigation Bureau and the CSD were ordered to follow these up. That was when the operation formally began.

Did the family of Prayoon Sitthichoke, the late political rival of Kamnan Poh, provide police with information about his presence in the country?

We couldn't exactly identify who was who on the internet. And we were struck by the fact that the number of postings online about Kamnan Poh had risen dramatically late last year between September and December.

After analysing all these pieces of information, we received a clearer picture of where he actually was.

What about him receiving medical care at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital?

We have no information on that.

How did you know he went to the hospital and were able to arrest him after that?

We were following a new line of inquiry, but we really didn't know he went to the hospital. We simply followed a car from Ban Saen Suk. At first, we weren't even sure he was in the car.

Everyone knew that he moved back to Chon Buri eight months ago. That's why many people are surprised that he was only arrested now.

We only obtained information about his presence in Thailand two or three months ago. Before that, we had no clue as to where he was.

What made you believe he was in that car?

We monitored movements [at the house] 24 hours a day for two months and we had a team that confirmed he was in the car. But we had to wait to carry out the arrest on the highway to minimise the risk to the public and officers.

But he didn't seem to be resisting arrest then. He seemed unaware that he would be arrested.

No, he didn't resist arrest at all. There were three other people in his car. They were his relatives. And although some bullets were found in the car, we found no guns.

Why didn't police arrest him in Chon Buri then?

Honestly, the investigators couldn't prove he was in Chon Buri as they had not seen him in the flesh.

So why didn't the Chon Buri police make the arrest?

It's been a difficult task over the past two months. We worked around the clock every day. I insist this operation has nothing to do with politics. It's just another police operation.


One more thing: Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Phakdinaruenart, chief of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), Thursday indicated he might decline to take action against those who sheltered Somchai or doctors who treated him.

He said doctors are duty-bound to treat patients while efforts by relatives or children to shelter their father are considered an act of gratitude in the Thai context. For more on this, click here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/333658/police-to-quiz-kamnan-poh-kin

treatment – the process of providing medical care การรักษา
matter – a situation or subject which is being dealt with or considered เรื่อง
tip-off – secret information or a warning given by someone  ข่าวเตือน จากวงใน
colonel – an officer of high rank in the armed forces or the police  พันเอก
suppression – stopping an activity from happening, in this case, criminal activity  การปราบปราม
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) – a national police department responsible for conducting most of the technical investigations of criminal offenses กองบังคับการปราบปราม
operation – a planned activity involving a lot of people, especially soldiers or police officers การปฏิบัติการ
sting operation – an action by police to catch criminals by tricking them, e.g. by pretending to buy illegal drugs
arrest – (of the police) taking someone to a police station because they are believed to have committed a crime การจับกุม
authorities – the police or people in official organisations who have the legal power to make people obey laws or rules เจ้าหน้าที่ (ตำรวจ หรือผู้มีอำนาจ)
minimise – to reduce something harmful or unpleasant to the smallest amount or degree ลดให้เหลือน้อยที่สุด
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
the public – people in general ประชาชน, สาธารณชน, มหาชน
get wind – to hear about something secret or private ได้รับข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับบางเรื่อง (คำไม่เป็นทางการ)
presence – the fact of being in a particular place, thing or situation การเข้าร่วม, การมีอยู่
supreme court – the highest court in a country ศาลฎีกา, ศาลสูงสุด
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
sighting – an occasion when somebody sees somebody/something, especially something unusual or something that lasts for only a short time โอกาสที่จะได้เห็น
via – through  ผ่าน
Central Investigation Bureau – a national police agency coordinating and assisting the work of provincial and city police components. กองบัญชาการตำรวจสอบสวนกลาง
late – dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
rival – a person you are competing against or opposing คู่แข่ง
provide – to give someone something that they want or need จัดหาให้,  จัดเตรียมไว้ให้
identify – to specify who someone is  ระบุชื่อ
strike – to come into somebody's mind suddenly สะดุดใจ, ฉุกใจ, กระทบใจ
dramatically – in a big way อย่างใหญ่หลวง
line of inquiry – a way of finding out information วิธีค้นหาข้อมูล
obtain – to get something that you want or need, especially by going through a process that is difficult ได้มา, ได้รับ
clue – an object or fact that someone discovers that helps them solve a crime or mystery เบาะแส, ร่องรอย
monitor – to regularly check someone/something จับตาดู เฝ้าระมัดระวัง
resist arrest – to refuse to be taken away by the police ขัดขืนการจับกุม
unaware – not understanding or realising something ซึ่งไม่รู้ตัวมาก่อน
relative – a member of your family ญาติพี่น้อง
bullet – a small, metal object that is shot from a gun  กระสุนปืน
investigator – someone whose job is to officially find out the facts about something – ผู้สอบสวน,  ผู้สำรวจ, ผู้ตรวจสอบ
prove – to use facts, evidence, etc. to show that something is true พิสูจน์
in the  flesh – to be in the same place as someone and actually see them rather than just seeing a picture of them  เห็นจริงๆ,  เห็นด้วยตนเอง
task – something that you have to do หน้าที่; ภารกิจ
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
indicate – to express an intention, opinion, or wish in an indirect way ชี้ทาง, บอกทาง, ชี้ให้เห็น
decline – to say that you will not do something ปฏิเสธ
shelter – to give somebody/something a place where they are protected from the weather or from danger; to protect somebody/something ให้ที่พัก,ให้ที่กำบัง,ปกป้อง
duty-bound – required by your job or assignment ขอบข่ายหน้าที่หรืองานที่ได้รับมอบหมาย
gratitude – a feeling of being grateful to someone because they have given you something or have done something for you ความรู้สึกขอบคุณ
context – the situation in which something happens and that helps you to understand it  สภาพแวดล้อม

Related search: Kamnan Poh, Somchai Somchai Khunploem, Pol Col Arthip Taennil