NAKHON PHANOM: Suriya Nuancharoen, alias Khru Aung, who is believed to head a network that tried to hire a scapegoat to help former teacher Jomsap Saenmuangkhot, a hit-and-run convict in 2005, has been arrested.
Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn Yankittikul, the Nakhon Phanom police chief, said Mr Suriya was arrested on Saturday in Saraburi province while on the run.
Mr Suriya would be brought to Nakhon Phanom police station on Sunday for questioning.
Deputy police chief Weerachai Songmetta is expected to head the interrogation and give a press briefing on the development of the case, Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn said.
Mr Suriya, 54, was arrested after Ms Jomsap was arrested from her home in Sakon Nakhon's Khok Si Suphan district yesterday morning. She denied involvement in the "hired scapegoat" scam.
Ms Jomsap, the eighth suspect, was charged with perjury and illegal assembly.
The seven other suspects are: Mr Suriya; Sab Wapee, 61; Chan Wapee, 59, Mr Sab's wife; Sab’s elder brothers Boontheong Wapee, 63, and Lerd Wapee, 66; Thatsanee Hanphayak, 61, a witness who earlier told police the driver was a man; and Niran Saenmuangkhot, 55, Ms Jomsap’s husband.
Mr Sab, his wife and his brothers surrendered to police in Sakon Nakhon on Wednesday.
With Mr Suriya's arrest, only Mr Niran and Ms Thatsanee were still at large.
