Facts about Natthaporn's arrest
"... Isranews Agency reaffirms that Natthaporn was doing his job as a journalist tasked with searching for facts to report to the public, as with other coverage by Isranews Agency that is carried out in good faith, in a non-partisan manner..."
Facts of the case about the arrest of Mr. Natthaporn Wiranant, reporter of Isranews Agency, now formally charged with trespassing a residential apartment number1124/277 Soi Phaholyotin 32, Ratchadapisek Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak District, Bangkok on 9 August 2017 are as followed:
1. The former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, a sitting member of the National Legislative Assembly is among the former civil servants currently investigated by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The NACC is looking into the submission of his inventory of assets and liabilities, particularly in relations to his co-ownership of a horses’ stable valued at hundreds of million baht, and the establishment of limited partnership companies with shares held by his wife and children. The case has been reported in the vernacular media. NACC appointed a fact-finding sub-committee to work this case. The information has been made public on NACC’s website, as shown in screen capture below. (related link: ‘พัชรวาท’ถูก ป.ป.ช.สอบปมเจ้าของคอกม้าร้อยล.-รีสอร์ทให้‘ภรรยา-บุตร’ถือหุ้น)
2. Isranews Agency investigated the inventory of assets and liabilities of the former RTP Commissioner-General according to information publicly available from the NACC’s website. It is found that the former National Police Chief, his wife and children, operated at least two business enterprises namely Somtawin Resort Limited Partnership, and Somtawin Real Estate Limited Partnership. Further fact checks with the Company Registrar, Department of Business Registration, showed the address of Somtawin Resort Pte.Ltd. located at No. 1 Moo 9, Bangplinoi Sub-district, Bangbo District, Samut Prakarn and this has been reported previously, and Somthawin Real Estate’s address is 1124/277 Soi Paholyotin 32 Ratchadapisek Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak District, Bangkok. (related link of these reports: รีสอร์ทขาดทุน5ปีรวด-ทรัพย์สิน137ล. ‘พัชรวาท’ก่อน ป.ป.ช.สอบปมคอกม้า-หุ้น'ภรรยา', จ่าเฉยยืนเฝ้า!เผยโฉม รีสอร์ตทรงไทยครอบครัว ‘พัชรวาท’-ปลวกขึ้น คนงานอดีตทหาร(มีคลิป)) [Resort 5 years In Red, 137 MB Asset of Phatcharawat Prior to NACC Inquiry, Police Dummy Guarding Thai-Style Resort of Patcharawat’s Family, White-Ant Infested, Ex-soldiers Serving as workers (with Clip)]
3. Isranews Agency assigned Mr.Natthaporn Wiranant, a reporter with our investigative reporting unit, to make a trip to the business address of Somtawin Real Estate Limited Partnership, to request an interview with the owner or executives of Somtawin Real Estate at the business address.
4. In the afternoon of 9 August 2017 Mr. Natthaporn made his way to the business address of Somtawin Real Estate Limited Partnership and found that the address was actually an apartment-for-rent building. The gate was opened. He took some pictures, and entered into the premise to ask about rooms for rent. He encountered a woman (it’s not clear what her role was.) He introduced himself as a reporter from Isranews Agency and asked to interview the owner. The woman told him to wait.
5. Shortly after, a group of police officers turned up at the premise and invited Mr Natthaporn to Paholyotin Metropolitan Police Station to assist in an inquiry. On the outset, Mr. Natthaporn was told he was needed for the documentation of his profile. After the conversation, one of the officers said there was not need to document his profile. Then another police officer came to talk to Mr. Natthaporn. This officer told Mr. Natthaporn that what he did was not right, and that certain issues the owner did not wish to give interview. The Inquiry Officer who asked for personal information from Mr. Natthapporn asked him to wait in the Inquiry Room for about 2 hours. Mr.Natthaporn asked what happened. One of the police officers informed that the “injured party” (unidentified) wished to press charge against Mr. Natthaporn. It transpired that Mr. Natthaporn was charged with trespassing. He was finally granted bail and released around midnight of 9 August 2017.
Isranews Agency wishes to reaffirm that Natthaporn was fulfilling his duty in fact-finding and reporting facts to the public, similar how Isranews Agency has been covering other stories – in good faith and non-partisan manner.
นายณัฐพร ได้รับรางวัลชมเชยสารคดีเชิงข่าวการคุ้มครองผู้บริโภค ปี 2558 ประเภทสื่อออนไลน์ เรื่อง ‘มหากาพย์ 2 ปี สะพานถล่ม ร้องเรียนสารพัดหน่วยงาน-ไร้ความคืบหน้า’
Prior to this assignment, Natthaporn has been reporting about injustice inflicted upon villagers and corruptions at local government level. His report on a bridge collapse disaster in Ayuthya in April 2013 killing 4 people including a 10 years old girl won an award in the consumer protection category in 2015 from the Independent Inquiry Commission for Consumer Protection.
Currently he is working on a story in light of parents’ complaints about construction project and administration at the high profile Yotinburana School.
For his effort in investigative reporting into the business of the wife of a former police chief, Natthaporn was charged with trespassing, chaperoned by a group of police officers to Paholyotin Police Station, and interviewed by a few senior police officers. It is noteworthy that he was not informed of any charge on the outset. He was fingerprinted like a criminal, taken into custody and granted bail for 15,000 baht in cash.
Mr.Natthaporn is a reporter doing his job of scrutinizing public officials to defend public interest, which is the fundamental duty of the mass media. Public officials must be prepared for this sort of scrutiny.
Mr. Natthaporn may not come from a rich or privileged family. Nor has he opted for a police career to uphold justice for the people. He has chosen instead to work as investigative reporter.
His professional integrity is by no means lesser than that of any public figure or public officials of certain profession.
Those in authority, certain individuals in the RTP leadership and officers who did not carry out their duty in honesty, you should ask yourself if what happened to Mr. Natthaporn happened to a member of your family, would you be able to sleep soundly at night?
Have you actually done your part in defending public interests the way Mr. Natthaporn has?