However, only three of the riot suspects have been taken into custody, Col Chanucharn said.
The riot, on October 10, caused an estimated B6.7mn in damage to property and left several police officers injured. (See story here.)
“The investigation for this case is still going on, as officials in charge of the investigation have identified more suspects through CCTV footage,” Col Chanucharn told The Phuket News yesterday (Dec 8).
“Last month, there were only 66 warrants of arrest issued, but at this time we have more than 80 warrants issued for suspects involved in the riot,” he added.
The large number of people involved in the riot prolonged the investigation, Col Chanucharn explained.
“This case is taking a long time to conclude because too many people were involved and most of the suspects are local teenagers,” he said.
“More suspects have been identified and officials are continuing to investigate this case, but hopefully we will conclude the investigation by this week.”
Police have yet to start targeting suspects name don the warrants for arrest, Col Chanucharn noted.
“Officials have contacted local leaders and parents and asked them to bring known suspects in for questioning, but so far, no suspects have come forward,” he said.
“So far we have taken three of the suspects named on the arrest warrants into custody. All were arrested last month on drug charges,” Col Chanucharn confirmed.
“One of the suspect is a 16-year-old boy arrested for possession of kratom in Thalang. He is now being held at a juvenile detention centre,” he added. (See story here.)
The other two suspects, also arrested on kratom charges, were arrested “accidentally” in unrelated raids, Col Chanucharn added, but declined to name the suspects or reveal any details other than that the two suspects were currently facing judicial process for the kratom charges.
Meanwhile, the four police officers involved in the botched drugs arrest that resulted in the deaths of Pathomwat Panarak, 22, and Thanaporn Kantakien, 17 – and consequently sparked the riot – remain on active duty in Phuket, Col Chanucharn confirmed.
The four officers – Lt Suchart Luecha, Snr Sgt Maj Prasai Phuengphol, L/Cpl Kanthaphol Khongnukate and L/Cpl Phanuwit Kaewsang – were quickly transferred from Thalang Police Station and the deaths of Mr Pathomwat and Mr Thanaporn were promptly ruled as an accident. (See story here.)
However, Col Chanucharn declined to identify to which police station the four officers were moved.
Instead, he simply said, “The four officers still serve in Phuket, but are no longer at Thalang Police Station.”