Saengpratheep Thienthong, 47, was arrested following a bomb attack on Monday apparently intended to kill village headman Chaochaiwat Chaviniramol.

The headman's son used the car that day and was seriously injured when the bomb exploded. The headman led a protest against Professional Waste Technology Co (Prowaste), in which Snoh's nephew holds shares.

Saengpratheep, president of the Tambon Wattana Nakhon municipal council, was apprehended during a raid led by Lt-General Jongrak Juthanont, commander of Police Region 2.

Saengpratheep was charged with hiring assassins to kill another person. Police seized five pistols from his house.

Chaochaiwat led protesters against a Prowaste dumpsite, claiming they had suffered from the smell for four years. They demanded the plant be closed down.

Jongrak said he considered the alleged plot a serious crime against a government official, and he took charge of the case himself because it involved well-known and influential local people.

Investigators had found evidence linking Saengpratheep to the attack, and Jongrak had issued the arrest warrant, he said.

Saengpratheep denied the charge, Jongrak said. Police would ask the court to deny Saengpratheep bail, believing he might threaten witnesses, he said.

The Chaviniramol family and some 100 villagers gave Jongrak a basket of flowers for making a quick arrest without fear of intimidation by influential people.

The Nation

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