Sondhi case back on rails

Deputy national police chief General Thanee Somboonsap said that he was optimistic the case could be wrapped up before his mandatory retirement at the end of September.

Thanee said his team had made much progress in the case since last Monday and all members of the team were working hard in order to wrap it up.

The police general yesterday briefed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the case for more than one hour at Government House. He told reporters afterwards that he had reported the progress in the case to the prime minister.

The chief investigator had earlier publicly said his team had made little progress because some had been threatened by unnamed influential figures and others had leaked secret information.

Thanee declined to say whether the annual reshuffle list of 152 police generals, proposed by national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and approved by Police Commission would have any impact on the investigation.

Patcharawat is on leave of absence, and General Vichien Pojphosri has been appointed caretaker police chief.

Police will next week issue more arrest warrants for suspects in the assassination attempt on Sondhi Limthongkul, who is also a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Police Maj-General Sumeth Ruangsuwat said yesterday.

He said the investigators were gathering important incriminating evidence in order to seek court approval for arrest warrants for more suspects. He declined to elaborate on how many warrants there were and who they were for.

The court earlier issued arrest warrants for Sgt-Major Panya Srihaera from the Army's Special Warfare Command in Lop Buri, and Police Corporal Worawut Mungsanthi, assigned to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, for involvement in the failed assassination. Both are still at large.

Worawut wrote earlier to Thanee denying any involvement. His lawyer also filed suit against the investigative team for defamation, but the suit was rejected by the court.