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Police Report 'Almost' Ready

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<font size=4>Police Report 'Almost' Ready <br>
</font><font size=3>POLICE are close to concluding their report on the
siege and expect to file 10 criminal charges relating to it. They are
waiting on statements from some key witnesses, including the Burmese
ambassador. <br>
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Pol Maj-Gen Chakthip Kulchorn
na Ayutthaya said the ambassador has yet to agree to give a statement on
the incident pending approval from Rangoon. <br>
Chakthip said the probe team will question Deputy Foreign Minister
Sukhumbhand Paribatra, warden Chaiyapruek Sawangphan and helicopter pilot
Somyos Buaman to reconstruct the activities of the five hostage-takers
before they crossed over the Burmese border. <br>
According to statements given by witnesses, the five Burmese had hired a
truck converted for passenger transport, running between Bang Rak and
Chong Non See, to drop them off at the embassy. <br>
Upon arrival, the five rushed out to secure the gate before storming into
the compound. They had not paid the Bt200 for the truck but the driver
fled after realising the siege was in progress. <br>
Some witnesses claimed that the hostage-takers had scouted the embassy
area since Sept 27. A food vendor opposite the embassy identified them as
lunch customers. <br>
The probe team planned to lay charges of assaulting accredited foreign
representatives, destroying the national emblems to defame a state with
diplomatic ties, threatening violence to intimidate authorities,
threatening violence to intimidate others, instigating public
disturbances by using threats, holding hostages, aggravated armed
robbery, unlawful possession of weapons, unauthorised carrying of arms
and unlawful entry into the country. <br>
Such charges each carry lengthy statutory jail terms.</font>
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