NAKHON PHANOM, Thailand – An assistance district officer, one of the suspects in the controversial Tak Bai case has returned to work immediately after the court on Monday dismissed the case due to the statute of limitations, Oct 29.
Wisanu Lerdsongkram, the assistant district officer in Nakhon Pathom province, who was one of the defendants in the Tak Bai case, was spotted at work on his first day back after a 14-day absence. He was seen investigating a case of a drug-crazed man damaging property in Tha Uthen district.
Wisanu had submitted a leave of absence from Oct. 15-18 after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the Tak Bai case. Despite his superiors canceling the leave due to the outstanding warrant, they were unable to contact him. With the case now time-barred, Wisanu reported back to the district office on Oct. 26 and resumed his duties.
Journalists tried to interview Mr. Wisnu in his office, but he declined to comment. He merely stated that 20 years ago, he was only a driver.
When asked about the matter, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an investigation into the assistant district officer’s conduct. While acknowledging that the case involved issues of official misconduct, Anutin said that disciplinary actions would be taken in accordance with regulations.
Meanwhile, the police have maintained that they made every effort to apprehend the suspects in the Tak Bai case. Despite launching a massive manhunt involving over 52 search locations and 241 surveillance points, authorities were unable to locate the suspects. The case was eventually dropped by the Narathiwat Court yesterday due to the statute of limitations.
The Tak Bai incident occurred in 2004 in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat. Over 1,500 Muslim protesters gathered to demand the release of six detained defence volunteers accused of alleged involvement in gun theft. The situation escalated, leading to a violent crackdown by security forces.
The detention and transportation of hundreds of protesters in overcrowded trucks to a military camp in Pattani province, about 150 kilometres away led to the deaths of 78 people due to suffocation.
Among the defendants in this case are several high-ranking officials, including former Army Region 4 commander Gen. Pisarn Wattanawongkhiri, military commanders, police chiefs, and a former provincial governor.
The statute of limitations expired on Oct 25 without any of the seven accused former high-ranking officials being arrested or surrendering to face charges. (TNA)
