BANGKOK — Government officials in Singapore have honored Thai junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha by naming an orchid species after him and his wife, Thai officials told reporters today.

Today Gen. Prayuth and his wife Naraporn Chan-ocha visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where one of the orchid species on exhibition has been renamed Dendrobium Prayuth Naraporn Chan-ocha, according to a statement released by the Government House.

Gen. Prayuth arrived in Singapore yesterday for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations. The general met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for bilateral talks.  

Maj.Gen. Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak, a spokesperson of the Thai military government, told reporters that Gen. Prayuth thanked the Singaporean leader for his confidence in the Thai economy and its potential. Gen. Prayuth also assured Lee that Thailand will organize a national election by next year, according to Maj.Gen. Weerachon. 

"He then invited Singaporean investors to come join the development and invest in Thailand," Maj.Gen. Weerachon said. 

Gen. Prayuth seized power from a democratically-elected government in Thailand last May. He has since ruled the country with an autocratic touch, banning political activities and protests, censoring the media, and appointing governing bodies stacked with military allies. 

Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who headed the government that was toppled by Gen. Prayuth, also had an orchid species named after her – the Ascocenda Yingluck Shinawatra – when she visited the city-state in 2011. 

BANGKOK — A close aide to the former wife of Thailand's Crown Prince has confessed to abusing his royal ties to secure top positions in state agencies.

Montri Sotangkul, former chamberlain to ex-princess Srirasmi, was arrested on 10 June on charges of lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) and bribing state officials.

Police say Montri exploited his position as a senior official in the Royal Household Bureau to win seats on the executive boards of several state enterprises, and to secure the rights to buy and sell land in Bangkok.  

After being detained and interrogated at the police headquarters in Bangkok, Montri was taken for a "crime reenactment" at CAT Telecom – a state-owned telecommunication agency – and the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology today. At each building Montri pointed to the seats in the meeting rooms where he allegedly pressured officials into appointing him as an executive board member.

Montri was later taken to the Ministry of Energy where he similarly pointed to the spot where he allegedly asked officials to name him an executive of PTT, a state-owned petroleum enterprise. 

"I have indeed committed the wrongdoing," Montri told reporters. "I confess to all charges. Now I feel repentant. I regret what I have done."

Once Montri completed his "crime-reenactment" sessions, he was handed over to the court, where a judge ordered him to be remanded. Montri was not accompanied by a lawyer. 

Pol.Maj.Gen. Sriwarah Rangsipramnakul, commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said Montri will be held at an undisclosed location – and not Bangkok Remand Prison – while he awaits trial "for the sake of safety of the suspect."

Montri is facing up to 20 years in prison, as defaming the monarchy alone carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, a law known as lese majeste. 

Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang also told reporters today that authorities will confiscate or freeze Montri's assets if they are proven to be related to his alleged wrongdoing. 

Montri is the latest person close to former Princess Srirasmi who has been charged with lese majeste in the past year. Her brothers, sister, parents, and uncle are all serving time in prison after being convicted of the crime, which carries a heavy stigma in Thai society. 

Srirasmi has not been seen in public since she resigned from the royal family in December 2014 amidst the scandal. 

Earlier this week, Pol.Gen. Somyot told reporters that former Princess Srirasmi personally appointed Montri to her entourage, and that the Crown Prince was not involved in her decision. 

UPDATE: 5 Thai Students Still Under Pakistani Custody, Govt Says

BANGKOK — Pakistani authorities have released four of the five Thai students who were arrested for trying to smuggle a firearm and ammunition past a security checkpoint at an airport in Pakistan, a Thai official said. 

The students were reportedly arrested at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on the night of 8 June, shortly before they boarded a Thai Airways flight bound for Bangkok. Thai officials say they were informed by Pakistani authorities that the five men attempted to carry a handgun, its magazine, and some ammunition onboard the aircraft. 

Anusith Kunakorn, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said four of the five students have been released and are on their way back to Thailand. He said they are expected to arrive in Bangkok today.

Pakistani authorities are reportedly still investigating the fifth student.

According to Anusith, all five students arrived in Pakistan in 2013 to study at Islamic schools.

He declined to give further information about why they were attempting to carry the firearm onboard the aircraft, telling reporters that there has been a lot of speculation about the incident that he is unable to verify.

"I haven't talked to them [the five students]," Anusith said. "But when the four students arrived, I will speak with them. I expect that we will have many more clues and information." 

The five students are from Pattani, Trang, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, and Krabi provinces. 

Asked whether the students are related to the Islamic State (IS) movement, as the Bangkok Post reported, Anusith replied, "I don't think they are related. Their families are not related neither. But in terms of an in-depth investigation, I cannot verify that. We are expanding our investigation." 

There is also no information that links the students to the Islamic insurgency in Thailand's southern border provinces, Anusith said. 

"Thai students have been travelling to study in Middle Eastern countries for some time now," said Anusith. "A majority of Thai Muslim students that I have met and visited tell me they expect to return to their homes in the three southern border provinces and develop the region."

He continued, "A majority of them are lovely. They don't understand why people interpret that anyone who goes to study abroad wants to train for combat or have certain ideologies. In reality, it isn't like that."

NARATHIWAT — The Thai military says it detained two members of the southern separatist movement following a gunfight in the border province of Narathiwat today.

More than 30 soldiers, police officers, and paramilitary rangers raided an outpost in the jungle behind Ipayae village at 6am this morning after receiving intelligence that insurgents were gathering there to prepare attacks during the holy Islamic month Ramadan, said Col. Ekkawuth Kongkhakhet, the commander of the operation.

The security officers reportedly encountered gunfire from the militants, prompting them to return fire. Col. Ekkawuth said the gunfight lasted for 10 minutes, and that eight insurgents managed to escape while two others were captured by security officers. No injuries were reported. 

The two suspects have been identified as Soma Samae and Ibrahim Uma. They are being detained at 48th Ranger Division for interrogation. 

According to Col. Ekkawuth, officers also found two handguns and ammunition at the camp, which consisted of three sleeping tents.

He said the evidence will undergo forensic testing to determine whether it was used in any previous "national security case."

The protracted conflict between Islamic insurgents and authorities in southern Thailand has claimed the lives of more than 6,200 people in the region, known as the Deep South. The separatists are seeking to secede the area, which borders Malaysia and was annexed by Thailand in the early 20^th century.

At least 60,000 security officers are posted in the region, and have often struggled to secure the trust of local residents because of the impunity granted to officers accused of excessive brutality and foul play. 

During a raid in Pattani province last month, security officers shot and killed four men who an investigative panel later determined were innocent and had no links to the insurgency. The military initially identified the victims as members of a militant group that regularly stages attacks in the region.