Thai Court denies bail bid by ex-CIB chief

BANGKOK, November 29 (TNA) - Former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Police Lieutenant General Pongpat Chayaphan has been sent to Bangkok Remand Prison for detention following the Criminal Courts’ denial of his bail bid. Police on Saturday took Police Lieutenant General Pongpat to the Criminal Court in Bangkok to seek its permission to further detain him after they had completed the interrogation of him. The former CIB chief appeared pale and weak when he arrived at the court. The former CIB chief and other 21 suspects including senior police officers were accused of several charges including lese majeste and bribery. Investigators opposed a bail application of the ex-CIB chief, who was arrested on November 23. They said he might use his influence as a senior police officer in meddling with evidence and witnesses. Police said they would request the Court to further detain Police Lieutenant General Pong-pat after his first 12-day detention period expires on December 4. To date, police have arrested 17 out of 22 suspects in the corruption scandal. Two of them have been released on bail. Huge amounts of cash, rare artefacts, aged Buddha images and amulets, and gold worth several billion baht have been seized from buildings belonging to Police Lieutenant General Pongpat and other suspects. Police said they are hunting five others who are still at large. (TNA)