The Move Forward party has suspended a member of Pita Limjaroenrat’s security detail, after online investigators revealed that he, Srisuriyane Srikamonpakdi, has been convicted of kidnapping and blackmail and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2011.

Secretary general Chaithawat Tulathon said another bodyguard has already been assigned to Pita, while the party conducts a thorough background check on Srisuriyane.

Chaithawat said that, being from a contractor, the party neither knew of nor checked his background.

After the history of Srisuriyane went viral, supporters of Move Forward offered moral support, referring to him as “Brother Ton”.

Move Forward’s deputy leader, retired Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath, confirmed the report, saying he was assigned to hold a press briefing about the arrest of Srisuriyane in 2011.

Supisarn revealed that Srisuriyane, claiming to be a police officer, and two accomplices, were arrested on charges of kidnapping, assault and robbery of a grocery store owner of gold ornaments and cash worth Bt276, 800, before releasing the victim. He threatened the victim, demanding more money, and was, therefore, also charged with blackmail.

He was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison, but this was commuted and he was released after serving just six years.

Srisuriyane has changed his name many times and was recruited by the security company that has been responsible for providing security to the party since 2019.

Supisarn, a former crime suppression police commander, said that Pita did not know about Srisuriyane’s background as the security company had assigned him to Pita.

Supisarn claimed that he has not yet met Srisuriyane in person, but saw him from afar and thought he was a former police officer by his appearance.

Supisarn said that the report that Srisuriyane is a convicted criminal has affected Pita’s image, but he and others in the party believe that everybody, be they rich, poor or an ex-con, should be given a chance.

“He has already served his prison time, so we should give him the opportunity to work, which is part of equality, on which the party places importance.