30-11-2023 (BANGKOK) A provincial public prosecutor, Phongphiphat Kerdthep, finds himself at the center of controversy as fugitive inmate Chaowalit Thongduang, alias Sia Paeng Nanod, accuses him and six others of conspiring to seize drug suspect Sitthidet, alias Jaruad, from authorities in Phatthalung province in 2019. In response to these allegations, the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has taken swift action, transferring Prosecutor Kerdthep from the Songkhla provincial prosecutor’s office to the OAG’s Office of Trafficking in Persons Litigation pending a comprehensive fact-finding investigation.
OAG spokesperson Prayuth Phetkhun revealed on Thursday that the Attorney-General has issued an order for the transfer to ensure an impartial inquiry into the allegations. The accused prosecutor’s relocation is not an admission of guilt, emphasized Mr. Prayuth, but rather a measure to uphold transparency in the investigation and maintain public confidence in the judicial process.
Chaowalit, 37, recently posted videos online asserting that he had been unfairly treated and singled out for punishment, despite the involvement of numerous other suspects in the case. The fugitive inmate escaped from his Nakhon Si Thammarat hospital bed on October 22, where he had been taken for dental treatment from the provincial prison. Despite being cornered in a forest hideout in Trang province on November 8, Chaowalit, accompanied by armed bodyguards, managed to evade capture after a dramatic exchange of gunfire with the police.
The OAG’s investigative panel will delve into Chaowalit’s claims that certain prosecutors had allegedly demanded 500,000 baht from him in exchange for dropping a case. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the case, as authorities attempt to untangle a web of corruption allegations within the legal system.
Prosecutor Kerdthep’s connection to the case raised further questions, prompting his transfer pending investigation. However, Kerdthep denied personal acquaintance with the runaway prisoner, stating that he had been transferred to Songkhla from the Office of Juvenile and Family Prosecution in Phatthalung in April.
In an unrelated incident earlier this month, the Songkhla provincial prosecutor filed a report with the police in Muang district after receiving a life-threatening letter. The letter, dated October 27, demanded the prosecutor return money to Chaowalit, threatening harm to him and his family if he refused. The ominous message, adorned with the word “die” and a drawing of a gun, added another layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama surrounding Chaowalit’s escape and the allegations against key figures in the justice system.
