Srirasm’s parents deny lese majeste
The parents of Thanphuying Srirasm Suwadee, formerly Princess Srirasm, reported to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police yesterday to deny allegations of lese majeste and personal damages brought against them by a woman in Ratchaburi.
Sawita Maneechan, 32, an employee of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, filed the complaint with the CSD against Ms Wanthanee, 66, and her husband Apiruj Suwadee, 72, last Thursday.
Ms Sawita said that 12 years earlier, Ms Wanthanee accused her of having an affair with Mr Apiruj and maliciously persuaded her uncle, a police officer at the time, to charge her with fraud for money she had allegedly borrowed from him.
Though the allegations were false, Ms Sawita admitted to the offence out of fear because the couple threatened her, she said.
The Ratchaburi court sentenced her on Dec 20, 2003 to two years in jail.
Though her prison time was later reduced to 18 months, she and her family were forced to leave Ratchaburi due to social pressure.
As well as lodging a complaint against the couple with the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), which oversees the CSD, she has also asked police to reopen her case.
Ms Wanthanee and Mr Apiruj denied the accusations.
Ms Wanthanee said she had never met Ms Sawita, nor had she been aware that she was prosecuted and jailed.
She and her husband were shocked to learn via the media that she had lodged a police complaint against them.
“I have nothing to say because I don’t know her. I don’t know her family either,” said Ms Wanthanee. “Please give us justice too,” she pleaded. Ms Wanthanee said she and her husband live in Bangkok most of the time, and only visited Ratchaburi temporarily in December when their daughter, Thanphuying Srirasm, moved there.
“We’ve lost everything and have no more tears to cry. Please give us mercy. We never insulted the monarchy,” she said.
Several members of the Suwadee family, including the couple’s son Nattapol Suwadee, face earlier charges for alleged connections to a criminal network involving the CIB’s former chief Pongpat Chayapan. Charges include lese majeste, extortion and kidnapping.
At least three of them were stripped of their royally granted family name, Akharaphongpreecha.
Pol Maj Gen Thitirat Nonghanpitak, the acting CIB chief, said investigators had questioned four witnesses whose statements corresponded and matched police evidence. He said officers will ensure justice for both sides and the case would be handled with utmost prudence.
Regarding Ms Sawita’s request to reopen her case, Pol Maj Gen Thitirat said police will have to first conclude working on the CIB case to establish if she has a legitimate claim.
Ms Sawita is still considered a culprit because the court has already ruled her guilty, said Pol Maj Gen Thitirat.
After questioning the couple separately, a process that took more than two hours, Mr Apiruj and Ms Wanthanee were allowed to leave because they had reported to the investigators voluntarily, which showed an intention to cooperate, said Pol Col Akaradech Pimolsri, acting CSD chief.
Besides, t here was no need t o detain them as no summons had been issued, he said.
Two local police officers served as witnesses and provided critical information, Pol Col Akaradech said.
One claimed to recognise Ms Suwadee but the other did not, Pol Col Akaradech said.