Police have denied rumours that a transferred policeman was involved in the case.
Kritsana, who testified to police for hours of testimony to police on Tuesday, surrendered yesterday afternoon saying he wasn’t involved in the assault and he was ready to face the law and hoped justice would be served. A few hours earlier, pub employees Thanandon Mansawaeng, 23, and Adisak Penglek, 20, also turned themselves in, while a third suspect, Apiwat Na Lamphun, 21, remained at large.
The fifth suspect, Malin Sky pub guard Thanomsak Pipatkijjakan, 43, surrendered after the incident and confessed to attacking Issarajnuwat Wakkawisan, 23, the son of 38th Army Circle commander Maj-General Witthaya Wakkawisan. The guard was officially charged and released on court-approved bail.
The deputy police spokesman dismissed rumours spread on social media that a police officer had helped to destroy evidence and warned that those sharing false information could face legal action. He added that no police officers held interests in the pub.
However, Provincial Police Region 5 acting chief Pol Maj-General Pittaya Sirirak said an officer from Chang Puak precinct, Pol Major Sathitchai Nitayawan, had already been moved to an inactive post yesterday to “make all sides feel comfortable”. Sathitchai had been accused of having ties to the pub and being close to the suspects.
Meanwhile, Home Resort Co executive Peeraya Kuwanant cancelled a contract to hire Kritsana as a manager of the company’s The Core Chiang Mai Hotel and other projects on Saturday, claiming that he had caused damage to the company’s reputation, Peeraya’s secretary Panumas Udomkhan-tikul said.
The hotel will remain closed until it receives a licence that it is applying for, she said.
Responding to Kritsana’s claim that he had been threatened, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said that if he felt unsafe, he could apply for police protection, adding that he would like to know who was making the threats.
Prawit also said that he had instructed the Provincial Police Region 5 chief to ensure justice for all sides.