Kamnan cries foul after drugs arrest

A local leader in Khon Kaen’s Khok Phochai district yesterday lodged a complaint with the Damrongtham government centre, claiming he and his wife were arrested on false drug charges.

Pichai Thonsen, 59, kamnan of tambon Ban Khok, was dressed in uniform when he turned up at the provincial hall to submit a petition demanding fair treatment for his family.

He said he and his wife had been framed and that the affair had something to do with a dispute he had with a local official attached to the Khok Phochai district office last year. The arrests occurred last Thursday at his house when four officials knocked on his door and asked to search the house for narcotics.

He said he accompanied the team during the search and nothing illegal was found. Before they left, he said he invited them to have refreshments and while they were talking over coffee, another official entered the house and announced he had found 45 speed pills.

Mr Pichai said he has served as kamnan for almost 30 years and never been involved with illicit drugs.

He insisted he was framed and the arrests had something to do with a petition he submitted with the provincial office seeking an investigation into the conduct of a certain official at Khok Phochai district office.

According to Mr Pichai, the official was transferred following a probe in which he was accused of improper use of government resources.