More warrants in bomb case
The Bangkok Military Court on Saturday approved a 12-day detention extension for four suspects in the grenade attack at the parking lot of the Criminal Court last week. It also approved arrest warrants for five more suspects.
The court granted the detention request as questioning of 15 more witnesses and further investigations into a gun and grenade used in the March 7 attack were needed, said Chayut Maryat, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) Division 6, an investigator in the case.
He opposed bail for the suspects on the grounds that the crime was serious and carried out by a criminal movement. They may flee if released, he said.
The four suspects are Mahahin Khunthong, who allegedly drove the motorcycle; Yutthana Yenpinyo, the pillion rider who allegedly threw the grenade, and their wives respectively — Nattapat Onming and Thachapan Pokkhrong — who are accused of colluding in the attack.
They are charged with attempted murder, causing an explosion that could hurt other people or damage others' property, and having war weapons and explosives in their possession.
The grenade that exploded in the empty parking lot of the Criminal Court building on Ratchadaphisek Road dislodged a fist-sized chunk of concrete from a parking barrier. No one was hurt in the late-night incident.
The mother of Ms Thachapan, who is five months pregnant, reportedly planned to place 400,000 baht as bail surety for her daughter.
Pol Col Chayut said six others alleged to be part of the plot and detained by the military would be handed over to police on Sunday.
Police said earlier that they had evidence that linked some of the suspects to a Feb 1 bombing near Siam Paragon shopping centre. Some of them were also said to be connected to the political unrest of 2010, they added.
The court also approved Pol Col Chayut's request to issue arrest warrants for five more suspects on charges of committing terrorist acts and masterminding the March 7 attack, bringing the total number of people wanted in the case to 14.
The officer said MPB commander Sriwara Rangsiphramnakul would reveal the names of the five and their roles later.