A high ranking Thai army officer wanted
on human trafficking charges handed himself
into police Wednesday ,the first military
figure in the junta- ruled kingdom to be arrested
over the grim trade.
Lieutenant General Manas Kongpan voluntarily
attended police headquaters in Bangkok on
Wednesday morning.
His detention raises awkward questions for junta
chief Prayut Chan O-Cha who has repeatedly
justified his coup last year as much needed antidote
to graft that he says had flourished under a series
of elected civilian government..
Manas ,a long serving army officer in Thailand's
south,arrived at police headquarters dressed
in his military uniform and made no statement
to a waiting press pack,
But country 's top poice officer said the 58 year old
denied the charges against him
Thai police have to detail what role Manas is
alleged to have played in the country 's once
thriving people smuggling and human trafficking
trade,
Rights groups have long accused Thai officials
turning a blind eye to -or even complicity in--
the trade of migrants through its southern provinces
and into Malaysia ,but until now no military personnel
have been implicated,
Thai police say they have issued 84 arrest warrant in
connection with their people smuggling and
human trafficking investigation,with 51 suspects
detained so far including some local officials,
Southern Thailand has long been known as a nexus
for lucrative and largely unchecked smuggling
networks through which persecuted Rohingya
Muslims in Buddhist -majority,Myanmar,and
Bangadeshi economic migrants other would
pass on their way to Malaysia
The army has suspended Manas and launched
an internal probe since the arrest warrant was
issued against him on Sunday
AFP
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