Justo has admitted to Singapore meeting, say Thai police

BANGKOK: Xavier Andre Justo, who is under investigation by Thai police for allegedly blackmailing PetroSaudi, has admitted to meeting certain individuals in Singapore to negotiate the handing over of documents in his possession.

“He met with very important people from some country, in Singapore. He negotiated about the price to give them all the copies of the documents in electronic files,” Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawuth Thavornsiri told reporters here Thursday.

He said Thai police knew the identity of the people that Justo (pic) had met based on his own admission as well as evidence collected and details from sources.

He, however, declined to reveal who Justo had met.

When asked if Justo had met with Sarawak Report news portal editor and founder Clare Rewcastle Brown, Prawuth said: “There was also someone sent from Europe.”

It was earlier reported that Justo had met with Malaysian opposition leaders and a media owner in Singapore prior to his arrest in Thailand on June 22.

However, Prawuth said Justo denied tampering with or changing the original documents.

“He (Justo) didn’t change. He gave them the original documents in electronic files,” Prawuth said when asked if Justo admitted to tampering with the documents.

He said investigations were almost completed and would take only about a month more as Justo had already admitted to blackmailing PetroSaudi.

He said Thai police had gathered other documentary evidence, such as emails and immigration and hotel reports.

Thai police have no plans to interview other witnesses as they have enough evidence now, he said.

Prawuth said he is unsure when Justo would be charged, but that it had to be within 84 days from the date of his arrest on June 22.

He added that Justo would not be extradited, as the offence was committed in Thailand. – Bernama