The daughter of a former Amnat Charoen MP was arrested yesterday for carrying hand grenades in public.
Nichapa Chantawara, and a friend identified as Pichchatorn Prasanee, both 24, were arrested early yesterday after police found two hand grenades in a bag carried by Ms Nichapa.
They were stopped by police along a road in Ubon Ratchathani province, according to Pol Col Prachya Kongsakul, chief of Khemmarat Provincial police station. They told police that had just come back from celebrating the Songkran festival in Khemmarat district.
Ms Nichapa denied any wrongdoing while her friend Pichchatorn admitted he had bought the grenades two days earlier from a friend in Khemmarat district.
Mr Pichchatorn said he carried the bombs as a measure of self-protection in case he was attacked by an enemy during the festival.
Paisarn Chantawara, Nichapa's father, said his daughter asked his permission to attend the festival in Khemmarat with her friend. She did not return home at the promised time and did not pick up the phone when he called.
Mr Paisarn said he had not heard from her until her arrest on Monday.
Mr Paisarn, a former MP, said his daughter told him that while returning from the festival, she and Mr Pichchatorn were stopped by the police at the checkpoint.
Seeing the police, Mr Picchatorn handed his bag to her and she did not know what was hidden inside.
Only when the police searched the bag did his daughter know there were grenades inside, according to Mr Paisarn.
Mr Paisarn said Mr Pitchatorn admitted the grenades were his and he handed over his bag to Nichapa because he thought the police would not run a thorough search of the bag if it was carried by a woman.
Mr Paisarn said he will bail his daughter out in court today.
The penalty for carrying explosive items like a hand grenade in a public area is up to five years' imprisonment and/or a fine up to 10,000 baht.
