I met Mr Independent

[webfact]

Surrender and fight for justice, police tell Nopporn
THE NATION
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Nopporn Suppipat

In an interview from undisclosed location, billionaire denies allegations against him, and rules out returning to country any time soon

BANGKOK: -- ROYAL THAI POLICE spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri has called on fugitive billionaire Nopporn Suppipat to turn himself in, and fight what the businessman claims are unfair allegations and distortions of the facts made against him.

Responding to an interview Nopporn gave AFP, Prawut yesterday highlighted a number of what he called irregularities and inconsistencies in the Wind Energy Holding president's comments.

Prawut questioned why Nopporn did not fight Bunthit Chotewitthayakul in court if his claim that he had repaid the money he owed Bunthit were true.

Nopporn has denied police accusations that he helped orchestrate the kidnapping of Bunthit over a debt he owed Bunthit.

Prawut described as unconvincing Nopporn's claim that he had agreed to pay Bt5 million to Navy commander Parinya Rakwathin - despite saying he did not know Parinya well enough - so that an influential military figure could help hasten the repayment of the loan to Bunthit.

It has been rumoured that Nopporn fled to Cambodia since the story broke last week.

But a senior Cambodian immigration officer, Teb Yadee, dismissed the rumour and said Cambodian authorities would hand him over to Thailand if they arrested him. Teb added that searches at several casinos across the border from Sa Kaew did not find fugitive Pattani-based businessman Sahachai Jiansermsin, another suspect associated with the alleged debt-collecting racket supervised by crimebuster Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan.

In Nopporn's interview, he denied police accusations that he had helped orchestrate the kidnapping of Bunthit, saying he fled to Cambodia on November 30 after discovering he would be charged with lese majeste.

"I knew Article 112 [the section of the Criminal Code relating to lese majeste] would mean I wouldn't get bail ... I couldn't take that risk," the 43-year-old told AFP in a phone interview from an undisclosed location early yesterday.

He said the media was his only hope for justice by reporting the truth.

Nopporn said he did not owe Bunthit money but had obtained a Bt17-milion loan from a company owned by three people, which included Bunthit and a lecturer at Krirk University who has a PhD.

"All three people did not deem it to be a loan and filed an embezzlement complaint against me before I had repaid the whole amount," he said.

"Bundit is the only person who hasn't withdrawn the complaint against me, despite him receiving his share of the Bt17 million. I don't owe Bunthit any money since April 2012, when I fully repaid it."

Nopporn said he had never heard of the three men with the surname Akarapongpreecha before June 23 - the date Parinya allegedly hired three men to force Bunthit to agree to receive only Bt20 million of the Bt120 million reportedly owed to him. "On my mother's and father's and everyone I love life [sic], I had never met or heard of them until this happened," he said.

More than 20 people have been arrested so far in the probe.

Nopporn said he believed he was being targeted because he was perceived as being close to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, although he insisted he was not a supporter of the ousted leader, who lives abroad in self-exile. "People said the police believed I was close to Thaksin, and with that I knew I had to run," Nopporn said.

He said he had no intention of returning to Thailand any time soon because he believed he would be unable to get a fair hearing under the junta-led nation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Surrender-and-fight-for-justice-police-tell-Noppor-30249326.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-08

[terryp]

another runner ... ...so much for men with principles, it looks like its a thai trait..RUN

[NongKhaiKid]

It's little wonder suspects with money, connections etc do a runner as Thailand doesn't appear to be interested in pursuing many, if any. of them.

[chooka]

Seems to be few hiding abroad to avoid protection. Just sit it out and wait for the statute of limitations to expire and all is good. I believe the redbull kid is home now and recovered from sniffles in Singapore.

[Boxclever]

Another victim of the Junta witch hunt. Better to run than be another victim of extreme "attitude adjustment" and find yourself flying off a 20 storey balcony.

[siampolee]

Of course there might just be an ulterior motive here aimed at increasing the benefits and the income available for disbursements of benefits to members of the police''benevolent fund'' which might see an interesting change in its fortunes if the wanted person was to return.

Edited December 7, 2014 by siampolee

[Bluespunk]

"He said the media was his only hope for justice by reporting the truth."

Yeah, good luck with that.

[Bluespunk]

"He said he had no intention of returning to Thailand any time soon because he believed he would be unable to get a fair hearing under the junta-led nation."

Ah poor dear, can't buy yourself out of this one at the moment?

All your powerful friends in gaol?

How nasty for you.

[bangkokfrog]

A lot of negative comments here from people who seem to have enough evidence to judge the guy guilty already.

According to the headline, the police urge him to "surrender and fight for justice." Who in their right mind would do this when the charges will be heard in a closed military court with no right of appeal.

[HeijoshinCool]

According to the headline, the police urge him to "surrender and fight for justice."

Actually, I thought that was the government's job, and the rest of us were supposed to enjoy the fruits of that fight.

[ChrisY1]

another runner ... ...so much for men with principles, it looks like its a thai trait..RUN

Agree.....however, with LM charges hanging over him....it would likely be straight to the Hilton......Something I wouldn't be too happy with either.

[Langsuan Man]

I have never believed that there can be any justification for those who cause traffic accidents and do a runner but if I was this guy, on the loosing team, I would keep on trucking

There is a lot more to this corruption scandal that we farangs know, and we sure can't discuss it here

[LuckyLew]

Friend / associate / supporter of TS, so he must be telling the truth

[Tatsujin]

Yes, please return, our coffers are running low (cos of the damn Military shutting all of our operations down), and after you've paid us a small "incentive" fee, we'll make sure "justice" is done in the right way for you.

[maidee]

freeze all his assets, bank accounts ??????

[Loles]

Yes, if he thinks can't buy his freedom as usually every-one did it, starts to cry and screams for justice. Laughable.

[aussieinthailand]

Friend / associate / supporter of TS, so he must be telling the truth

I wonder who can prove he is a "Friend / associate / supporter of TS," though it may well be possible

And yeah as for me if the BIB or army were after me I to would be off.

In my experience, little as it may be, TS is from the north, CM, and the mentality of most people from the south is that they are far superior to those from the north and have little to no respect and even a hatred for the people from the north, So this guy is a southerner, Pattani, it would seem more logical for him to be a 'friend/ associate / supporter of the masquerading monk Suthep as he is from the south and has his fingers in a lot of cookie jars, but hey who knows?

it's just and thought

"it's the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it"

Aristotle.

[Traveling Sailor]

Another victim of the Junta witch hunt. Better to run than be another victim of extreme "attitude adjustment" and find yourself flying off a 20 storey balcony.

Precisely. With Thai justice working the way it does, it was the smart thing to do.

[aussieinthailand]

freeze all his assets, bank accounts ??????

Ok yu'p that's basic stuff, but c'mon mate if you had his $$$ wouldn't you have an escape plane all in place? ie four or five passports / drivers license's,ID's and several bank accounts in several countries, I know I would if I was cashed up like this guy.

Edited December 8, 2014 by aussieinthailand

[SOTIRIOS]

.....you don't 'skip town' if you are innocent.....

[winstonc]

.....you don't 'skip town' if you are innocent.....

hes a thai male we all know how brave these guys are ....

[jpeg]

another runner ... ...so much for men with principles, it looks like its a thai trait..RUN

There's a very interesting piece in today's BP about why he ran and the very odd circumstances surrounding this case. Worth a look before commenting.

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"He said he had no intention of returning to Thailand any time soon because he believed he would be unable to get a fair hearing under the junta-led nation."

Ah poor dear, can't buy yourself out of this one at the moment?

All your powerful friends in gaol?

How nasty for you.

But I'm rich, I'm special!

[jpeg]

.....you don't 'skip town' if you are innocent.....

Unless you have good reason to suspect you might not make it to your actual court hearing ...

[lil fluffy clouds]

another runner ... ...so much for men with principles, it looks like its a thai trait..RUN

I recall thailand 25yrs back, bus accidents were frequent, the drivers more often than not would do a runner....

[Bluespunk]

A lot of negative comments here from people who seem to have enough evidence to judge the guy guilty already.

According to the headline, the police urge him to "surrender and fight for justice." Who in their right mind would do this when the charges will be heard in a closed military court with no right of appeal.

Not saying he's guilty, but he has run away and it does seem he has charges to answer.

If he's innocent face the courts.

If he was dirt poor he might have legitimate fears, but he's not.

He's extremely wealthy.

He'll have all the paperwork to prove his argument.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Bluespunk

[nolabuff]

A lot of negative comments here from people who seem to have enough evidence to judge the guy guilty already.

According to the headline, the police urge him to "surrender and fight for justice." Who in their right mind would do this when the charges will be heard in a closed military court with no right of appeal.

Not saying he's guilty, but he has run away and it does seem he has charges to answer.

If he's innocent face the courts.

If he was dirt poor he might have legitimate fears, but he's not.

He's extremely wealthy.

He'll have all the paperwork to prove his argument.

I don't know if he's guilty or not, but the LM charge does change things. That puts his case in military court with no right to appeal. I wouldn't trust the current government to guarantee me a fair trail after the mess that is this entire scandal. I would hightail out of Thailand if I was in his shoes, guilty or not.

[tbthailand]

"I knew Article 112 [the section of the Criminal Code relating to lese majeste] would mean I wouldn't get bail ... I couldn't take that risk," the 43-year-old told AFP

First, that is unfortunately true, and second, it might remind posters that this is the case which is not about what it appears to be about. That makes it a very good idea for this guy to leave Thailand. His guilt or innocence is not of any real concern to the people charging him.

[klauskunkel]

But a senior Cambodian immigration officer, Teb Yadee, dismissed the rumour and said Cambodian authorities would hand him over to Thailand if they arrested him. Teb added that searches at several casinos across the border from Sa Kaew did not find fugitive Pattani-based businessman Sahachai Jiansermsin

Is it the case that when Thai fugitives from law find themselves in Cambodia, they are compelled to make a straight beeline for a casino and stay there? Strange kind of magnetism...

[chuang]

How to fight for justice if you are charged under Article 112............Run Forrest Run..