Police have uncovered an attempted jailbreak plot involving the former Deputy Minister for Commerce, Banyin Tangpakorn, who is currently in prison for falsifying documents and using them to transfer approximately 300 million baht in shares to himself from a property developer.
The discovery of the plan has led to an arrest warrant issued for three individuals that police claimed were involved with a plan to break the former Deputy Minister from prison.
Pol Lt Col Banyin, meanwhile, is now facing an additional four charges, including plotting to escape from jail and planning to kidnap the wife of the Bangkok Remand Prison Chief.
Due to the plan being uncovered by police before any crime took place, officials are charging Pol Lt Col Banyin with the intention to commit a crime. The charge carries a sentence equal to one-third of the punishment for a crime that has been committed.
According to the Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, Pol Col Anek Taosuparb, police have discovered evidence that they will use to press charges against the Pol Lt Col Banyin and three other suspects involved with the plot.
In addition to the evidence discovered, police also claim to have testimonies from two inmates, known as “Joe” and “Top.” Both inmates say they were approached by the former Deputy Minister to help him escape from prison.
The three suspects also alleged to have been involved with the plot include a former MP for Nakhon Sawan, an attorney, and Pol Lt Col Banyin’s son. Arrest warrants have been issued for all three individuals.
During the investigation, police also discovered that “Top,” who has been released from prison, contacted Pol Lt Col Banyin’s eldest son upon release with information about the plan to break out of jail.
The investigation follows other allegations directed at the former Deputy Minister. On Monday, Pol Lt Col Banyin attended the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct for a hearing regarding another case.
He is accused of abducting and murdering the elder brother of the judge who was handling his first theft case along with five other people.
During the hearing, Pol Lt Col Banyin said he has nothing to do with the murder of the judge’s brother and claimed the other five defendants had framed him.
He also denied having any knowledge about a plan to escape from prison but said that the stress caused by being in prison had pushed him to the brink of suicide.
Since Thursday, the former Deputy Minister has been placed in solitary confinement at Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi.
Source: Bangkok Post
