Detained engineer in Cambodia's fine

Published: 15/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Thai engineer who has been arrested in Cambodia on spy charges is safe, Thai charge d'affaires to Phnom Penh, Chalothon Phaowibun, said on Sunday.

The Cambodian government has accused Mr Siwarak Chothipong, a 31-year-old engineer working for the Cambodian Air Traffic Services, of stealing the flight information of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"Mr Siwarak is being detained in a prison in Cambodia and he is safe. I have reported the details to the Foreign Ministry and the situation in Cambodia is still normal," Mr Chalothon said.

Meanwhile, army spokesman Sitthichai Makkunchorn said no officer from the Armed Forces Security Centre under the name Manit was arrested in Cambodia.

He said the centre had not dispatched its officials to spy the neighbouring country, since the situation was fragile.

He believed this report was released to create a psychological war.

"The ties between the Thai and Cambodian armed forces are stable, especially along the Thai-Cambodian border," the spokesman added.