NAKHON PHANOM: The two remaining suspects summonsed in the scapegoat driver perjury case involving former teacher Jomsap Saenmuangkhot have turned themselves in to police.
Jomsap was convicted in a fatal hit-and-run case in 2005 and unsuccessfully sought a retrial to clear her name, claiming wrongful conviction, after being released from prison under a royal amnesty.
Her former husband, Niran Saenmuangkhot, 55, director of Dan Muang Kham Health Promoting Hospital in Sakon Nakhon, and Thatsanee Hanphayak, 61, who earlier told police the driver involved in the fatal accident was a man, on Monday afternoon reported to Phra Song police station in Na Kae district of Nakhon Phanom, the provincial police chief said on Tuesday.
Mr Niran and Ms Thatsanee were interrogated before being temporarily released, Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn Yankittikul said.
Police had not yet pressed charges. Investigators were still compiling the case against them and their part in the alleged network that tried to help Jomsap by producing other people who claimed to be the driver in her fatal accident, Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn said. Charges against them would depend on the level of their involvement.
Mr Niran had previously given testimony to help Jomsap, while Ms Thatsanee's testimony to police interrogators, and later in court when Jomsap sought retrial, was conflicting
They are the final two of eight suspects summonsed for alleged involvment in the hoax. (continues below)
Four of them have already been charged with perjury and illegal assembly -- Suriya Nuancharoen, Jomsap, Sab Wapee and his wife Chan Wapee, the Nakhon Phanom police chief said.
Mr Sab, 61, surrendered last week and confessed to police in Nakhon Phanom that Mr Suriya, a friend of Jomsap, had promised to pay him 400,000 baht for his false testimony on her behalf. Mr Sab initially claimed to have been the driver in the fatal accident in 2005 for which Jomsap was convicted and imprisoned. Mr Sab’s wife and his brothers later surrendered to police in Nakhon Phanom.
Mr Suriya was caught in Saraburi on Saturday while on the run after Jomsap was arrested at her home in Sakon Nakhon on Saturday morning.
Jomsap was found guilty of reckless driving causing death after a pickup truck struck a bicycle, killing 75-year-old Lua Pobamrung, in Renu Nakhon district of Nakhon Phanom on March 11, 2005.
The Supreme Court upheld the first court’s sentence of three years and two months in prison in 2013. Her term was reduced to 18 months by royal amnesty two years ago.
Following her release in April 2015, Jomsap began wrongful conviction proceedings through the Justice Ministry, seeking a retrial and clearance of her name.
Police took Mr Suriya to the Nakhon Phanom provincial court on Tuesday and seek approval to detain him for a further 12 days.
Police opposed bail for fear he might tamper with evidence and witnesses. The court was still considering the bail application.
Jomsap was detained after the court rejected her bail application. Mr Sab and his wife have been released on bail.
