A retired Thai Navy officer denies supplying an assault rifle to a Chinese national for 200,000 baht on May 10, contradicting investigation findings that traced a profit markup chain through multiple intermediaries to the weapon's delivery
"Sergeant Hap" Denies Providing Gun to Chinese Man, insisting if he had actually sold firearms he would be rich by now. His denial contradicts investigation findings that reveal a systematic profit markup scheme that escalated the price to 200,000 baht. The planned handover point was scheduled for May 10.
On May 10, 2569, reporters covered the arrest of Ming Chen Sun, age 31, a Chinese national, and a 33-year-old Taiwanese woman, apprehended with military-grade assault weapons, high-explosive ordnance for mass destruction, antipersonnel grenades, and throwing grenades totaling 10 rounds, along with bomb-making equipment and significant quantities of oil.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 10 at Na Chom Thian Police Station, authorities detained Petty Officer First Class Methee ("Sergeant Methee") from the Royal Thai Navy and Petty Officer First Class Pathaompol ("Sergeant Hap"), a retired naval officer, for questioning. They were identified as the gun supplier to the Chinese nationals, with interrogation lasting several hours.
Petty Officer Pathaompol disclosed to reporters that he contacted police officials today to meet with investigating officers to demonstrate his innocence and denied all allegations. He acknowledged knowing "Sergeant Methee" because they served in the navy together and everyone knew each other, but he was not the one who procured the firearms and had no involvement with this Chinese group. He argued that if he had actually sold guns, he would be wealthy already—a single gun barrel goes for hundreds of thousands of baht.
"Sergeant Hap" insists on his innocence, denying involvement in providing guns to the Chinese man.
According to investigation reports that outlined a timeline, the Chinese suspect Ming Chen entered a shooting range in Pattaya and met Kchentor ("Boy"), a firearms instructor. Ming Chen subsequently sent photos of the desired weapons to Kchentor for purchase. Kchentor then contacted "Sergeant Methee" for assistance in obtaining the firearms according to specifications. "Sergeant Methee" then reached out to "Sergeant Hap" before the guns were offered for sale through Lieutenant Colonel Wachrin ("Sergeant Boy").
In this transaction, profits were added systematically through multiple layers:
1. Original price: 150,000 baht
2. "Sergeant Hap" added 30,000 baht (quoted price of 180,000 baht)
3. Kchentor added another 20,000 baht (selling price to Chinese man at 200,000 baht)
After agreeing on the price, Kchentor drove Ming Chen to meet "Sergeant Methee" at a convenience store on Sukhumvit Road, then they proceeded to the meeting point—a garden house in Sattahip subdistrict surrounded by barbed wire on a hillside, with a shipping container on the property. This was where "Sergeant Hap" and "Sergeant Boy" delivered the guns.
Sergeant Methee Under Investigation
After inspecting the firearms to his satisfaction, Ming Chen transferred 100,000 baht to "Sergeant Boy's" account and another 100,000 baht to Jamlohng's account (the money recipient) on February 5. Jamlohng received only 500 baht in payment for withdrawing the funds.
As for the Taiwanese woman, police brought her in for questioning with a translator to determine her connection to the weapons and explosives.
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