AN ARMED motorcyclist high on drugs who intruded into Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11.50 a.m.yesterday and was captured at 12.03 p.m. faces heavy punishment with the maximum being death penalty or life imprisonment or 15-20 years in jail and a fine of 600,000-800,000 baht, Naewna newspaper quoted Mr. Kittipong Kittikachorn, the airport's director, as saying today (May 4).
The 34-year-old motorcyclist intruded into the airport's restricted airfield area and when the security centre spotted him they alerted the police to arrest him. He was tracked throughout with surveillance cameras.
Police patrol cars drove in to arrest the intruder, but because he was armed with an imitation pistol, an axe and a pair of scissors, they had to use force to control him before doing so. While being taken to the police station he tried to escape on a bridge but was stopped.
He was later found to have a methamphetamine pill in his possession.
Kittipong said that this incident did not affect passenger service and flights with security officials and police resolving it in a timely manner and according to procedures.
The intruder and some security personnel sustained minor injuries and were given primary medical care.
In addition to being prosecuted for trespassing a restricted area of the airport, the intruder also face charges under Air Navigation Act, B.E. 2558 (2015), section 19, for using a weapon or any other material that may endanger the airport's safety with this carrying heavy punishment of even death penalty or life imprisonment or 15-20 years in jail and a fine of 600,000-800,000 baht.
The suspect also faces charges for destroying airport property and consuming and illegally possessing narcotics.
Two glass doors at the entrance to the concourse were damaged when the intruder tried to smash them in trying to escape.
Pol. Col. Jirawat Piampinset, the superintendent of the Suvarnabhumi police station, said interrogation revealed that the suspect was intoxicated with narcotics.
Police are filing seven charges against him including using weapons or other objects to damage the airport, trespassing the airport's restricted area and damaging property, carrying an axe around town without permission, possessing and consuming drugs and causing fear and shock to others.
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Top and Home Page: Suvarnabhumi Airport director Mr. Kittipong Kittikachorn and superintendent of Suvarnabhumi police station Pol. Col. Jirawat Piampinset briefing the press about the intrusion.
