Decision today on Kamronwit's indictment
Japanese prosecutors will decide today whether to indict former Bangkok metropolitan police chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, who was detained at Narita International Airport in Japan on Monday for having a gun and ammunition in possession, police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said on Wednesday.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut said Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit was still being detained by Japanese authorities.
According to information from the Japanese police, the prosecutors would decide on Wednesday afternoon whether or not to indict Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit.
If he was spared from indictment, the former Bangkok police chief would be able to return to Thailand right away. If he was indicted, the Thai embassy in Japan would provide him with lawyers, Pol Lt Gen Prawut said.
The police spokesman said Japanese police would apply to extend Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit's detention.
The Royal Thai Police Office had tried to coordinate with the Japanese police in arranging assistance, but could not do anything much because the case must proceed according to the Japanese law.
The offence carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison in Japan. In Malaysia or Singapore, the penalty may be as high as death, he added.
What the RTPO could do was to confirm that the detainee is a former high-level police officer.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethi said the Thai embassy in Tokyo had sent staff to act as interpreters and would find a lawyer for Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit.
The case was now in the investigation process. The embassy would do all it could to ensure justice for Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit, he added.
Prasong Poonthanes, chairman of the board of Airports of Thailand, said from an initial investigation Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit had gone through all security procedures at Suvarnabhumi airport and he was not found to be carrying a gun or have a gun in his suitcase.
The former metropolitan police chief was cooperative when his body and his luggage were checked. Therefore, it was initially assumed that he did not have a gun when he departed Thailand for Japan, he said.
However, a more thorough investigation was still under way, Mr Prasong said.
Pol Lt Gen Kamronwit went to Japan on June 18 on Thai Airways Flight TG 640 which left Suvarnabhumi airport at 9.50pm.
He was found with a gun in his possession at Narita airport as he was about to board a 5pm flight to return to Thailand on Monday.