Lese majeste charge: Trio confess

[webfact]

LESE MAJESTE CHARGE
Trio confess
THE NATION



Fortune-teller Mor Yong admits he had committed the offence for more than two months, more arrests to be made

BANGKOK: -- THREE well-known figures arrested over lese majeste charges have confessed to violating Article 112 of the Penal Code, the national police chief said yesterday.

National police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda said celebrity fortune-teller Suriyan Sujaritpolwong, 53, who is better known as "Mor Yong", his aide Jirawong Wattanathewasilp, 39, and Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa, 44, an inspector from the Technology Crime Suppression Division, have confessed to the charge.

According to Chakthip, he has issued an order to dismiss Prakrom from duty due to his involvement with the case.

The three were escorted to the military court yesterday, arriving in three separate vehicles, handcuffed, and accompanied by a large group of heavily armed police commandos.

The three suspects were taken back to 11th Military Circle after the military court yesterday approved a request for their further detention.

A large number of media personnel were also present at the military court yesterday, with some TV channels broadcasting the event live.

Pol Lt-General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, who heads the team investigating the case, told reporters yesterday that the suspects had admitted to violating the Penal Code so for more than two months.

All three were all accused of insulting the monarchy, which violates the lese majeste law. Prakrom was also accused of possessing unregistered firearms and ammunition.

They were arrested after the military court issued warrants for their arrest - on October 18 for Suriyan, October 20 for Prakrom and October 21 for Jirawong.

"There were references to the top institution so we brought these three in order to jail them," said Srivara, who is assistant national police chief. He added that there might be others involved in this case.

"Police are gathering evidence for military prosecutors to take this case to court. If the evidence links this case to other people, the authorities will take legal action against all of them," he told reporters.

Srivara said yesterday that more arrests would be made soon for people involved with this group of offenders who had cited the monarchy for personal gains.

'Probe into links with eight'

He said the investigators would also try to determine as to whether these suspects were connected to the eight police officers who have been transferred to inactive posts earlier for suspected involvement. The eight officers have been moved to the Central Investigation Bureau.

Srivara yesterday declined to elaborate on how many suspects the police were targeting in this lese majeste case.

He said, however, that police have strong evidence against the trio who were taken to the military court yesterday.

"The offence carries a penalty of more than five years in prison so we have to be careful. We need strong evidence before any arrest warrants are issued," he said.

A previous high-profile case of lese majeste involved disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau commander Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayapan and his men, who were arrested last year.

Srivara yesterday also distributed a document comprising the names of people arrested for citing the monarchy for personal gains.

The document said the National Council for Peace and Order had found that a group of people had wrongly cited their connection with the high institution in order to demand benefits from other people.

Such an act was damaging to the monarchy and could threaten national security.

The NCPO then assigned a representative to file a complaint with the police to take legal action against those allegedly involved.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Trio-confess-30271385.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-22

[webfact]

PROFILE
The rise and the fall
The Nation

Profiles


Suriyan Sujaritpolwong

BANGKOK: -- Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sujaritpolwong was considered one of the top astrologers of the country. His Facebook page said that he was born Suriyan Ariyawongsopon in Trang province but changed his name in 2008 after the family name was bestowed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

He wrote that when he was seven and out selling newspapers to earn some extra money for his family, he was hit by a car and knocked unconscious. During those several days when he was unconscious, he claimed he had many visions that helped him become an astrologer when he grew up.

He finished Wichianmatu School in his hometown before going to Bangkok to attend high school at Triam Udom School. After graduating, he studied for a bachelor's degree in mass communications at Bangkok University.

He became famous as an astrologer after he left university. His clientele included celebrities and famous figures from both Thailand and overseas.

He then went to London to obtain a master's degree in advertising design and public relations. After returning, he decided to stop working as an astrologer and focused on youth development and charity activities.

He became a committee member of several social agencies, including the National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand and the Thai Buddhist Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage as well as in government agencies such as the Justice Ministry.

Mor Yong's last public appearance, before his arrest on October 14, was when he co-chaired a meeting with PM's Office Minister Panadda Disakul at the Public Relations Department on the "Bike for Dad" event that will be held on December 11. He has listed his favourite book on Facebook as "This Life … Very Difficult to Understand".

Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa

Police Major Prakrom Warunprapa is a superintendent at the Technology Crime Suppression Division. He was transferred from the Information Division of the National Police Office in 1998 before he studied computer science and information technology in the United Kingdom.

His Royal Thai Police commission was restored by Police General Somyot Poompanmuang and he assumed his current position in January this year. He was promoted from the rank of captain to major when he was recommissioned into the service. He was assigned to trace and investigate websites and social media network for lese majeste content.

Prakrom has played a crucial role in the investigation of many lese majeste cases, including cases involving former CIB chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayapan, the Pongpat network and Chatrawadee "Rose" Amornpat.

Jirawong Wattanathewasilp

39, was a secretary to Suriyan Sujaritpolwong. He also was known as "Art Shutter Mahathep" but his profile and background was not available.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/The-rise-and-the-fall-30271384.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-22

[webfact]

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[Thai at Heart]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

[tbthailand]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

repeating what others have been charged with saying under article 112 can be considered LM.

How convenient, eh?

But in this case, the charges are essentially the same as the ones used against the family of the former princess.

[T_Dog]

The Bangkok Post had an article that Prayuth looked at his watch and announced a crackdown on les majeste suspects. Things are tightening down.

[Time Traveller]

The law is you can be charged based on suspicion with something that can not ever be revealed or discussed and then you'll be sent away for decades in prison.

Great system isn't it.

It seems this is just the beginning of a cleansing of those with questionable loyalty to the regime.

[Orac]

The Bangkok Post had an article that Prayuth looked at his watch and announced a crackdown on les majeste suspects. Things are tightening down.

Prayut certainly appears to have a better idea of what is going to happen than this astrologer - unless, of course, they didn't like what he saw and decided to shoot the messenger.

[TheCruncher]

The three were escorted to the military court yesterday, arriving in three separate vehicles, handcuffed, and accompanied by a large group of heavily armed police commandos.

Treated like dangerous criminals should be treated.NOT?

[BlindMagician]

So, the cop was investigating LM, and then committed LM himself. Did his process of investigation change his stance in the topic...I think Hollywood made some films with that mechanism as their central theme. Can't remember the film's name, Tom Cruise was in it, hunter turned to hunted.

[TheKnave]

112 - a blunt and indiscriminate weapon, suitable for any whimsical purpose.

[ggt]

The three were escorted to the military court yesterday, arriving in three separate vehicles, handcuffed, and accompanied by a large group of heavily armed police commandos.

OMG...Imagine what kind of heavily armed police commando escort would be necessary for someone who had actually committed a real crime...

This smacks of Feudalism...surfs and Lords...Kings and peasants...

Hopefully some of the more archaic face saving rules will become moot in future administrations...

[Yann55]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

There wouldn't be, and there never is.

Whenever this particular issue is at stake, the press switches into elliptical / pussy-footing mode, the result being that articles are mostly incomprehensible.

This one is just another example.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Yann55

[NongKhaiKid]

Thai officialdom, the BIB etc usually leak like a sieve but when it comes to LM silence rules.

I will refrain from other comments, probably unnecessary anyway.

[onni4me]

This law is one of the reasons why this country will never reach it's full potential. Anyone can be silenced with the help of this draconian law.

Since much else can't be expressed I leave it at this.

[soalbundy]

He didn't see this coming, not much of an astrologer.

[empireboy]

I would very much like to understand how this particular law benefits Thailand more than not having would?

[soalbundy]

I would very much like to understand how this particular law benefits Thailand more than not having would?

They miss out on things like ''spitting image''

[LannaGuy]

I would very much like to understand how this particular law benefits Thailand more than not having would?

Britain has a similar institution yet does not require such draconian laws (if you think this is not true go view the 'Spitting Image' puppets). They must feel very, very weak and insecure to require this level of 'protection'. This and the defamation laws are the blight of this wonderful land.

[northernphil]

I can't see backhanders getting these 3 off.

[arrowsdawdle]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

Of course not. That would be lese majeste.

[arrowsdawdle]

The fortune teller should have seen this coming.

[Praematura]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

[soalbundy]

When are Thais going to say enough is enough and rise up.[emoji35]

They have all been bribed

[tbthailand]

The three were escorted to the military court yesterday, arriving in three separate vehicles, handcuffed, and accompanied by a large group of heavily armed police commandos.

OMG...Imagine what kind of heavily armed police commando escort would be necessary for someone who had actually committed a real crime...

This smacks of Feudalism...surfs and Lords...Kings and peasants...

Hopefully some of the more archaic face saving rules will become moot in future administrations...

Feudalism, spot on.

LM - as much as it is a political hachet, it's primary reason for being is to allow those in power to maintain the feudal system in this country.

The country will never be able to address it's problems in an open and honest way as long as this law is at the disposal of those who do not want change, democracy, free speech, self-governance, ....

When Art 112 is abolished, that will be the sound of the starting gun for real progress in Thailand ... and not before.

Sad but true.

[EyesWideOpen]

Sigh...... An ongoing travesty stemming from the bizarre use of LM laws.

Still waiting for the Thai people to wake up.....

[MaeJoMTB]

Not sure I can make a real comment on this silliness.

I'm thinking the Police investigator made a mistake similar to the Priest in this clip.

"But I only said, this bit of halibut was good enough for Jehovah!"

Another classic.

Edited October 22, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[elgordo38]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

Maybe the changing of his family name after being awarded a new one by some one in the royal family. Methinks he might have made this up. Its all in the article. Give it a second shot.

[elgordo38]

Quote He then went to London to obtain a master's degree in advertising design and public relations. unquote. Anyone knowing anything about astrology can understand that the above masters degrees are definitely a requirement if you want to work in this highly competitive field. Its a dog eat dog world out there people.

[Thai at Heart]

No mention of what they have done specifically.

There wouldn't be, and there never is.

Whenever this particular issue is at stake, the press switches into elliptical / pussy-footing mode, the result being that articles are mostly incomprehensible.

This one is just another example.

That's not true. Sometimes it's a speech, news article. Is this all to do with trading on a connection? Seems that no one is allowed to note that they have an important friend anymore.

How very unthai . One can only wonder to the timing. Why the panic to clean up. Might be quite a quiet Xmas on the beach. I mean who would have guessed, having a military govt around at such vital times to clear up soothsayer....