Army chief will sue if linked to Sondhi plot

Asked to comment on rumours that Thanphuying Viriya Chavakul, who has had conflicts with Sondhi, was the mastermind behind the murder attempt Anupong said: "I am not her. You need to ask her about that. I have not heard about this allegation before, but if you want a comment, you will have to ask her."

Speaking to reporters about Sondhi's ambiguous statement linking the military with the attempt on his life on April 17, Anupong said: "I will exercise my legal right against whoever tries to implicate me. Sondhi will be held responsible for what he says, as will the media that publishes articles reporting what he did not say. Don't link me with anyone involved in the shooting."

Anupong repeated his pledge to cooperate with the police or launch the Army's own investigation into the shooting, especially with regard to three cartridges from Army-issue bullets found at the scene which were fired from an M-16 assault rifle.

Police chief investigator Pol General Thanee Somboonsap said he had no idea about Sondhi's statement linking "a noble lady" with the shooting. "I don't know anything about it. You have to ask Sondhi yourself about that," he added.

Thanee said he could not tell whether he could solve the case before he retires in October. "It depends on how much evidence police can produce or gather," he said.

The deputy police chief said the forces did not know about a lead that an Army sergeant major was behind the dud M-79 grenade shell found in a city bus travelling near Sondhi's vehicle during the shooting.