Arrest warrant issued for outspoken major general
The Criminal Court issued on Friday an arrest warrant for Army officer Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol after he failed to appear for defamation cases in which he is a defendant.
National police chief Seripisut Temiyavej initiated the actions before he was promoted. In the first case, Seripisut claims that in interviews with the Naew Na newspaper, Khattiya said Seripisut had raided a popular Bangkok gambling den to bolster his reputation and improve his promotion chances. In addition, Khattiya said Seripisut attempted to have brotherinlaw LtColonel Thavornsak Thepchatree made Metropolitan Police commissioner. The remarks were published on February 20 and February 21 last year. At the time Seripisut was an inspectorgeneral. Khattiya and counsel failed to appear for yesterday's verdict, asserting Khattiya was attending his child's graduation in the United States. The court found insufficient evidence to justify the defendant's excuse and issued an arrest warrant. It will now deliver the verdict on June 19. The court postponed a hearing into another defamation allegation brought by Seripisut against Khattiya, this time for allegedly libellous remarks published in Thai Rath. Another arrest warrant was issued and the hearing rescheduled for June 26.
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