KUALA LUMPUR: Thai police have maintained that the arrest of six Malaysians - including a popular modern dikir barat singer from Kelantan - on Nov 1 was not a case of entrapment.
Sinar Harian reported that Sungai Golok Police Chief Jedsadavit Ingprapan said the raids and arrests were based on ongoing investigations and intelligence information.
"Before making an arrest, we conduct investigations and follow procedures. This includes sending drugs to the laboratory and collecting fingerprints," he said.
Jedsadavit added that the police are currently awaiting the chemical forensics report and identification of fingerprints found on the seized drugs.
"The investigation will take about a month. It doesn't matter who it is; we carry out the same investigation with no special treatment for artists or celebrities," he said on Saturday (Nov 9).
Jedsadavit added that people can make assumptions and claims, but the police act according to intelligence and procedures.
He was responding to allegations that the raid and arrest of the six individuals was a case of entrapment.
"When the arrests were made, officers and policemen from the narcotics division did not know that there was a famous artist in the room. The search of the hotel room found 6,000 Yaba pills hidden in the bathroom," he said.
He denied claims that two individuals escaped before the raid, as reported by the victims' family members.
Regarding the investigation of the six being held at Narathiwat prison, he stated that they are awaiting the forensic report, fingerprint test results on drug packages, and other findings.
Once the report is received, it will be submitted to the court for further action.
"I expect the test results to be available within a month. All six detainees, currently on remand in Narathiwat prison, are not allowed bail for now. We have recorded their conversations and confessions, which will be used in court," he added.
According to Jedsadavit, Thailand's new drug laws have changed, with the seizure of more than one Yaba pill considered being for distribution purposes.
It was reported on 3 November that six Malaysians were arrested at a hotel near Sungai Golok for alleged drug possession on 1 November.
Jedsadavit mentioned that besides the drug offence, the suspects were also being investigated for allegedly entering Thailand without valid documents.
On Nov 1, the Narcotics Division from the Sungai Golok police station raided a hotel near Sungai Golok at 5am and arrested six Malaysians, aged between 25 and 34, for drug possession.
Among the six arrested was a popular modern dikir barat singer from Kelantan.
