Thursday, December 3, 2009

Mother visits alleged Thai spy


The mother of accused Thai spy Sivarak Chutiphong, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, and his younger brother flew to Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning to visit him in prison.


Cambodian authorities have allowed Mrs Simarak to see her son for the second time at the request of former foreign affairs minister Noppadon Pattama.

Mrs Simarak said before leaving that she had no hidden agenda in seeking help for her son from the opposition Puea Thai Party.

“I do not want to bother the government too much and in the meantime I want to use all channels available to be able to see my son in Cambodia,” she said.

Mrs Simarak revealed that the Foreign Ministry had offered to provide cash security of 50,000 to 200,000 baht if the Cambodian court allows her son bail.

Mrs Simarak said she would spend one night in Cambodia.

She also said a report that her passport was seized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was incorrect.

Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party just wanted to help Mrs Simrak visit her son in helping arrange the visit. There was no intention to upstage the government.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey spoke along similar lines. He said there was no loss of face for the government in Peua Thai giving the woman assistance. This was not a political game. It was no more than the love between a mother and her son.

Mr Sivarak, who worked for Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on Nov 12 and charged with stealing a state secret - Thaksin Shinawatra's flight plan - and passing it to a Thai diplomat.

His bail application will be decided on Thursday and his trial is expected to begin next Tuesday.

No comments: