Witnesses in Banyin case may face perjury charges

Police are considering laying charges of giving false statements against some witnesses in a case related to a prison break plan involving former-deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn.

Pol Col Anake Taosuphap, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said that investigators have questioned more than 20 witnesses, and some of them gave statements that contradicted evidence obtained by police.

They may be charged with giving false statements to authorities, Pol Col Anake said. He declined to reveal how many of them would be charged.

He said that the police have solid evidence even if Woraphat Tangpakorn, the son of Banyin, insists that the alleged plot was never a realistic prospect.

Banyin, a former deputy commerce minister, was convicted for forgery and is accused of being involved in the abduction and murder of a Bangkok South Criminal Court judge’s elder brother.

He was placed in solitary confinement last month at Bang Kwang Central

Prison in Nonthaburi after reports of a plan to escape from Bangkok Remand Prison (BRP) allegedly involving multiple people surfaced.

Mr Woraphat was summoned for questioning on Thursday after police learned he was a close friend of Natthapol “Top” Norakarn, 30, who served under Banyin when he still had his police rank.

Natthapol was also detained at the BRP at the same time as Banyin before the alleged escape plan came to light, and police suspect Mr Woraphat and Natthapol were involved in the plot.

Mr Woraphat on Thursday denied involvement in the alleged escape bid and insisted he was not a friend of Natthapol. Mr Woraphat said they met in prison during a visit and he had asked Natthapol about his father who was detained in the same section.

Mr Woraphat, however, admitted to having communicated with Natthapol over the phone about general topics.

According to Pol Col Anake, police agents learned Natthapol contacted Mr Woraphat after the former policeman was released on bail.