Pol Maj Gen Sinlert joined Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters in Phuket Town this morning (Mar 18) to confirm the charges to the press.
The two New Zealanders, Hamish Day 36, and Oscar Mattson Day, 38, each face five charges for their actions in the incident, Maj Gen Sinlert said.
The two men were speeding on motorbikes along Chao Fa East Rd in Chalong on Saturday (Mar 16). They ignored an order from Chalong Traffic Police officer Lt Somsak Noo-iad to pull over, prompting Lt Somsak to give pursuit.
The men were forced to a stop, and in the ensuing altercation one of the Kiwis forced Lt Somsak to the ground and took his handgun, while the other took his phone to delete any photos or videos recorded by the officer.
However, reinforcements from Chalong Police Station soon arrived and both Kiwis were placed under arrest.
While the gun was being taken from Lt Somsak, the gun fired*. Luckily, no one was injured, Maj Gen Sinlert said today.
Both men are now in detention at Phuket Provincial Court, Maj Gen Sinlert confirmed.
The men each face five charges, Maj Gen said: conspiracy to commit robbery; working together to fight or obstruct officials from performing their duties; participating in physically attacking officials performing their duties; attempting to bribe an official; and and driving without a driver’s license.
“We have coordinated with Phuket Immigration to request Immigration Division 6 revoke their ‘visas’ [permits to stay] and we have requested that the court deny bail,” Maj Gen Sinlert said.
Both men have denied all charges against them, he added.
Lt Somsak suffered only minor injuries and has been discharged from hospital to recuperate at home.
Phuket Vice Governor and Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob this morning both visited Lt Somsak at Phuket Provincial Hospital to offer him their best wishes and a couple of gift baskets.
* Later reconfirmed that the gun fired just once, not two times as the first official report noted.