Manhunt launched for the arrest of fugitive Sia Jo after he escaped from the court
Mr Sahachai Jiensermsin alias Sia Jo is an influential businessman in the three southernmost border provinces.
He has been under close watch by the security force who suspected him of being a key figure in the lucrative cross-border oil smuggling from Malaysia. However, officials have only managed to nail him down on charges of counterfeiting official documents and immigration seals.
Officials raided Mr Sahachai’s house several times in August and September. They have managed to uncover more than 100 million baht worth of cash and gold bars which were impounded.
On Thursday October 9, the Pattani provincial court found Mr Sahachai guilty as charged and sentenced him to one year and nine months imprisonment. But before he was sent into the prison to serve his term, he managed to escape from the detention cell at the court, thanks to the help of Pol Sub-Lt Aroon Srisookmark, deputy inspector for suppression at Pattani’s Muang district officer, who was responsible for the businessman’s detention at the court. It was suspected that four other policemen at the court might also be involved in this daring escape but Aroon has, so far, been the only officer punished.
The court immediately ordered Aroon jailed for six months for contempt of court for allowing Sia Jo to escape but the jailterm was halved after he confessed. On top of that, he is facing a charge of allowing a convicted defendant to escape and malfeasance in accordance with Articles 157 and 204 of the Criminal code which are liable to a maximum imprisonment of ten years.
Pattani deputy governor Sompoch Suwannarat said he suspected the escape was plotted some time ago and that several people might have been involved. He noted that Mr Sahachai was supposed to appear before the court on the other day but he asked to move forward the hearing on October 9.
He disclosed that Pol Sub-Lt Aroon asked to escort Mr Sahachai out of the courtroom. Once out of the court house, the convict just vanished.
The deputy governor summoned a meeting of officials concerned on October 10 to discuss the case as a massive manhunt was launched to arrest the escapee and also to prevent him from crossing the border into Malaysia.
Pol Col Prabpon Meemongkon, deputy commander of Pattani provincial police, said Aroon told his interrogators that he went to make a phone call and it was then that Mr Sahachai escaped.
However, a committee was set up to investigate the escape case whereas Aroon was temporarily relieved from police service.
Meanwhile, Pol Lt-Gen Anurut Krisanakaraket, commissioner of the southern border police command, called an urgent meeting of the police commanders of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to discuss Sia Jo’s escape.
The military, in the meantime, have questioned four police non-commissioned officers who were on duty at the court on October 9 to determine whether they had anything to do with the escape of Sia Jo.
Colonel Pramote Prom-in , spokesman of the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command, told Isra news agency that Mr Sahachai thought that he would be acquitted by the court but he was wrong as the court handed down jailterm on him without any suspension which was why he decided to run away.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caption : Sia Jo