Video may identify arsonists

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

12 July 2011

 

 

Public prosecutors are scheduled to present closed-circuit video footage today in the criminal trial of two men charged with participating in the arson that burned down CentralWorld and Zen department store last year.

 

The video is expected to help pinpoint those responsible for setting the shopping centre ablaze during riots after the military moved in to disperse red-shirt demonstrators in central Bangkok on May 19 last year. Police have charged two adults and two minors with arson and their trials are being held separately in Criminal Court and Juvenile Court.

 

[color:red]Tawee Nakchumnum, 42, a senior security guard employed by Central Group which owns the shopping complex, on July 1 testified in Criminal Court he and other guards had discovered a number of small fires in the building and were trying to douse them when the rioters stormed the building.[/color]

 

The security staff tried to negotiate with the rioters to allow them to put out the fire in the building but their threatening behaviour forced Mr Tawee and his team to retreat and hide.

 

Anond Khempetch, 30, another state witness who has been in charge of the CentralWorld's CCTV control room for two years, told the court that he had watched on the control room monitors as a dozen people or more threw molotov cocktails at the building as others started looting.

 

Two of the defendants, Saichol Pae Bua (29) and Pinit Jannarong (27), are due to appear before the court again today for another hearing, during which the public prosector will present CCTV video footage of the looting and arson attack on the shopping complex.

 

The other two defendants Padsakorn Chaisrithao (18) and Attaporn Wannato (18) appeared before the juvenile court last week in separate hearings. They are scheduled to return to court on Thursday for another hearing.

 

In addition to the arson charge, Padsakorn, Attaporn and Mr Pinit also face charges of looting. Mr Saichol is being tried only for the arson charge.

 

While the other suspects have spent the past year in jail, Padsakorn and Attaporn have been out on bail since their arrests. Another five people have been charged with looting. The court has already examined all the state witnesses but has yet to question defence witnesses in the case.

 

[color:red]Padsakorn told Bangkok Post that he and his parents wished the ordeal would end as soon as possible so he could go back to his normal routine and further his studies.[/color]

 

It's been quite stressful this past year as I could no longer work in Pattaya where my parents live and I have had to work for daily wages in Bangkok instead," Mr Padsakorn said.

 

He said he had not known the other three defendants prior to the arrest. "When the dispersal began, the crowd was scattering everywhere. I followed others fleeing into the [CentralWorld] building and was arrested there," he said. He admited that he had participated in the rallies leading up to the crowd dispersal on May 19.

 

Attaporn, an employee at one of the Central Group's affiliates, used to work at CentralWorld but was moved to another branch prior to the demonstration. He regularly showed up at the Ratchaprasong rally and was arrested in the afternoon of May 19.

 

Mr Pinit was arrested near the Zen Department Store's parking entrance (opposite the Police Hospital).

 

Mr Saichol said he was selling bottled water near Pratunam pier when soldiers from Ratchaprarop marched in the direction of Ratchaprasong, prompting him to flee. He was arrested two days later at Sanam Luang.

 

 

 

 

Burn and loot for democracy!