Pallop Pinmanee

CRIME - General's brother linked to ammo haul.
15 August 1998
Bangkok Post

The military will take legal action against a former army intelligence unit chief who allegedly ordered a huge ammunition purchase in the army's name without authorisation, an army source said yesterday.

The accused was identified as Maj-Gen Sukij Pinmanee, a retired officer and elder brother of Gen Panlop Pinmanee, secretary to Deputy Defence Minister Gen Wattanachai Wuthisiri.

Maj-Gen Sukij was reportedly a key partner in Thai Ammunition Co, allegedly owned by the wife of Lt-Col Thatchapong Thanphatthaweewong, an army officer arrested after a police seizure on Wednesday of some 700,000 rounds of assorted ammunition from his home in Pathum Thani province.

Maj-Gen Sukij was the last commander of the army's Intelligence Unit 217 monitoring the security situation along the Thai-Burmese border in Ratchaburi province. The unit was directly under the Internal Security Operations Command, which was dissolved in 1995.

According to the source, Maj-Gen Sukij, a Class 6 graduate of Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, had allegedly ordered the purchase of the ammunition in 1996, about a year after his retirement from the army. The purchase was allegedly made in the name of the army without authorisation.

The source said the army chief, Gen Chettha Thanajaro, was very concerned that some military officers were involved in private businesses and had exploited military positions for personal gain.

"The ammunition (seized on Wednesday) was imported for sale to shooting ranges in several provinces, including Lop Buri where Lt-Col Thatchapong once supervised a shooting range of the army's Special Warfare Centre," said another army source, who added the import was made legally with tax invoices for the delivery.

Meanwhile, Gen Panlop said yesterday his elder brother had set up Thai Ammunition Co in 1996, one year after his retirement.

Gen Panlop also admitted his brother had made the ammunition purchase in the army's name in the hope of facilitating the deal and speeding up the delivery.

It was "totally illegal", added Gen Panlop.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who also heads the Defence Ministry, said yesterday he had instructed the police chief, Gen Pracha Promnok, to make a thorough investigation "without having to worry about anything" in order to bring the "real culprits" to justice.

Maj-Gen Pongthep Thespratheep, the army secretary, said the army was considering legal proceedings against both Maj-Gen Sukij and Lt-Col Thatchapong. The army has already suspended Lt-Col Thatchapong's promotion following the ammunition seizure.

Maj-Gen Pongthep added Maj-Gen Sukij might face serious charges.

He also said an M-16 assault rifle found at Lt-Col Thatchapong's house was borrowed from the army.