Police, Justice officials deny divisions over Jomsap case despite Dusadee’s questioning

By PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI, 
TAWEE APISAKULCHART 
THE NATION 

 

File photo : Jomsap

 

THE JUSTICE Ministry and police have settled an apparent dispute over the case of hit-and-run convict Jomsap Saenmuangkhot, who is now accused of perjury in her attempt to clear her name.

The reconciliation came to light yesterday, hinting at the possibility that Justice Ministry officials would be spared prosecution in the case and only civilians would be implicated in the alleged plot to whitewash Jomsap. 

 

“No matter how this case ends, it is the result of collaboration between the Justice Ministry and police,” Provincial Police Region 4 deputy chief Pol Maj-General Tanasak Rittidejpaiboon announced at a press conference yesterday. 

 

Sitting next to him was Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Pol Colonel Dusadee Arawuit, who has been criticised for supporting Jomsap’s request for a retrial despite knowing that at least two witnesses speaking in her defence had failed lie-detector tests. 

 

While the Justice Ministry actively responded to Jomsap’s plea for help, police stood by its conclusion that Jomsap, a former teacher, was the driver who hit and killed an elderly bicyclist with her pickup and fled the scene. In 2013, Jomsap was convicted and jailed. But after she was released early on a royal pardon, she fiercely tried to clear her name, all the while declaring her innocence. 

 

Police objected to Jomsap’s request for a retrial and, after the Supreme Court rejected the request last month, they started investigating her and others about an alleged plot to clear her name by hiring another man to claim responsibility for the crash. 

 

Jomsap and her close friend Suriya Nuancharoen are already in detention for allegedly hiring Sap Wapi to make the claim. 

Both Suriya and Sap failed lie-detector tests when they were trying to defend Jomsap. 

 

Police recently summoned 14 officials from the Justice Ministry for questioning regarding their role in the case. Tanasak also interviewed Dusadee personally yesterday.

 

After talking for more than two hours, the two senior officials decided to hold a press conference. 

 

“We talked today because the public might begin to think the Justice Ministry and police have had a conflict,” Dusadee said.

 

He added that he would answer police in writing after he received a list of questions. Dusadee said he had genuinely believed Jomsap’s claim that she was innocent and decided to help look for evidence that could be used to back her claim. 

 

He added that Jomsap had submitted to a lie-detector test, but the results had been inconclusive.

 

“As for Sap and Suriya, I never met them. I am not at an operational level,” he said. 

 

Dusadee added that he had informed senior police officers after learning of the lie-detector test results for Sap and Suriya. 

 

Tanasak confirmed Dusadee had notified the National Police Office about the suspicious witnesses. 

 

“That’s how we started the investigation into alleged perjury,” Tanasak said. He added that he would take action against everyone involved in the alleged plot. 

 

In related news, Jomsap’s niece, Wassana Petchthong, yesterday turned herself in to Muang Nakhon Phanom Police Station to acknowledge perjury charges related to her efforts to clear Jomsap.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30333974

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-15

This case has too many twists and turn and when face saving is added to the

mix I will never really know what the truth is, who is really guilty and who is just

saving face. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Police, Justice officials deny divisions

"Any perceived divisions are the result of ill-meaning spirits, when in fact we are united in brotherly love."

Lie detectors are rarely used in investigations these days because the results are extremely dependant on the experience of the questioner. 

Courts in the west do not even allow results of lie detectors in court anymore.