Police say they now have one more witness from Mae Hong Son – the province where most of Monta’s maids came from.

Sanit also cited police interrogation of Monta’s former driver Sunthorn Khanhin, 38, who said that he did not believe that Monta’s former maid Janthana “Noona” Khotkongthai had committed the crime as accused. Janthana served an 18-month sentence after Monta accused her of stealing in 2010. He also claimed that Monta did not insist on being addressed as “Khun Ying” (the title of a woman with Royal decorations), saying he only referred to her as “Khun Nai (a polite term used for a wealthy woman).

On July 7, Monta was charged with perjury (giving false information about a criminal offence implicating another person), attempted human trafficking, and lese majeste, and is in detention at the Central Women Correctional Institution ever since. The charge of perjury was related to a police complaint Monta filed against her former maid, Prapawan “Goi” Jaikla, 18, and the maid’s parents accusing them of stealing Bt10 million worth of gold bars and cash. The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court yesterday approved a second 12 days of detention for Monta until July 30.

This false charge prompted the police to look into eight other police complaints that Monta had filed previously, including one against her former maid Janthana.

Sanit said police inquiries into some 13 to 16 investigators and supervisors from Prachacheun Police Station for allegedly mishandling the nine cases was not ready yet because some of the accused had already been transferred elsewhere.

Meanwhile, commander of the Central Investigation Bureau Thitirat Nongharnpitak said he had ordered a probe into the case of a missing wealthy woman from Udon Thani, who was found dead from an illness, and the land that Monta allegedly tried to purchase from her.

He said things should become clear by next week.

Thitirat also confirmed that Sunthorn has not yet been found to have anything to do with Monta’s alleged crimes, and hence was being used as a witness unless other people or evidence suggests they should not do that.