A three-star Thai general accused of involvement in human trafficking turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, the most high profile among scores of suspects wanted as part of a police crackdown on the illicit trade, The Rakyat Post reported on 2 June quoting Reuters.
A total of 84 arrest warrants has been issued over human trafficking, a business that activists and the United States say Thailand has done little to stop. Police say 51 arrests have been made so far.
Lieutenant-General Manus Kongpan said he was ready and willing to go to trial.
“I ask for justice. I’m ready to fully cooperate with officials in every way,” he told reporters by telephone on Tuesday while enroute to a police post at Pedang Besar, a town on the Thai-Malaysia border where trafficking has flourished.
“No matter what the court decides, I’m ready to accept it.”
Thailand’s Defence Minister and former army chief Prawit Wongsuwan insisted Manus should be considered innocent until proven otherwise.
“He is still just a suspect,” Prawit told reporters.