ABOVE: Kamronwit Thoopkrachang arrives at a police station today to answer questions. Photo: AkaravutTv9
The firearm found in a former Bangkok police chief’s handbag in Narita Airport was not his, authorities said today.
Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, who was detained 20 days in Japan for trying to carry a gun on a flight, returned to Thailand on July 14 and was finally called in to answer police questions today.
The former police commissioner showed up at noon and was questioned by police Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano, a deputy metropolitan police chief. Kamronwit was metropolitan police chief from 2012 to 2014.
Amnuay said Kamronwit did not own the gun he was arrested for. No further explanation was given. Amnuay did not give any indication who the gun belonged to.
One month ago police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri told the public Kamronwit confessed to owning the weapon and forgetting it was in a bag when he flew out of Suvarnabhumi Airport for Japan. An AFP story quoted a Japanese official saying Kamronit admitted “the gun was his own and was a gift from a friend.”
Kamronwit was arrested June 22 when he tried to board a flight at Narita Airport with it still in his bag. Japanese police released him without charge and deported him back to Thailand.
Officials again blamed the delay in making a decision whether to prosecute Kamronwit on documents they’re waiting Japan to send.
News that Kamronwit carried the weapon onto a flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport was an embarrassing security lapse for an industry already under scrutiny for failing to meet aviation standards.
In response, tighter security measures were introduced at Don Mueang Airport, then hastily withdrawn when they led to massive delays and inconvenience. Officials are also considering new bomb detectors at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
