Thai cops fine with foreign police interviewing Justo

(The Nation/Asia News Network) – Thai police are amenable to their foreign counterparts interviewing a former PetroSaudi International executive arrested for allegedly attempting to blackmail his former employer.

Pol Colonel Akaradej Pimonsri, acting commander of the Crime Suppression Police, said Monday that Britain had dispatched its officers to Bangkok to question Xavier Andre Justo at Bangkok Remand Prison, as the suspect was accused of committing a crime in their country.

“We welcome requests from other countries if they want to talk to the suspect,” Akaradej said.

IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has said a request has been submitted to Thai police to interrogate Justo.

Police will record Justo’s statement before deciding on the next step, he said.

Justo, 49, a Swiss national, was arrested on Koh Samui last week for seeking 2.5 million Swiss francs (Bt90.5 million) from PetroSaudi in exchange for not disclosing confidential company information, according to Thai police.

He has denied the charges.