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BANGKOK: Thai authorities are to charge four people with spreading rumours about the health of the country's king which sent stock markets plunging earlier this month, the prime minister said on Thursday.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has been in hospital since mid-September with a lung infection and fever and last week made his first public appearance since his admission.
The Thai bourse plunged 8.22 per cent at one point on October 15 amid rumours about the health of the king, who is revered as a demi-god by many Thais and as a stabilising force in a politically turbulent nation.
The government launched an immediate investigation into whether the markets were manipulated, leading to the arrests announced by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday.
"I heard that there are four people arrested, but I don't have their names yet," Abhisit told reporters. "The authorities had enough information to go ahead with the charge."
Lieutenant General Thangai Prasajaksatroo, commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, said police had applied for a search warrant to look for more evidence.
Last week, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it was seeking more trading information from two foreign broker houses, including UOB Singapore and Credit Swiss Hong Kong.
- AFP/so
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