Porked out: Ex-DSI chief gets the chop amid sizzling scandal

Police Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, the now former Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), finds himself ousted and reassigned amid the recent ongoing pork scandal.

The Cabinet’s decision to remove Suriya from the DSI’s top post and appoint him as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice has left the public clamouring for answers. No official explanation has been provided, but insiders suggest that Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin’s impatience with the DSI’s handling of the illegal pork trade may be the driving force behind this unexpected move.

During a recent meeting to discuss the ongoing battle against the illegal import and smuggling of frozen pork, the 61 year old Thai PM did not mince words. Expressing his dissatisfaction with the lack of progress, he left Suriya in no doubt about the severity of the situation.

The crackdown on illicit pork trade is crucial for protecting the local industry, preventing price reductions, and averting the potential spread of animal diseases.

In a bold move, the former DSI chief took to Facebook to address his removal. In a post today, he revealed that he had foreseen this day since taking office but had willingly chosen this path from the outset.

Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, despite proposing several transfers of senior officials in the ministry for approval, did not put forward a replacement for the ex-DSI chief, reported Thai PBS World.

As Suriya exits the DSI, the agency remains embroiled in a high-profile investigation. The focus is on the Siam Makro wholesale chain, a subsidiary of the CP Group, implicated in purchasing imported frozen pork from two companies charged with illegal importation. A staggering 161 cargo containers of frozen pork have been seized at Laem Chabang deep-sea port since September.

Siam Makro, on November 14, issued a statement attempting to distance itself from the scandal. The company claimed to have ceased buying pork from one of the accused companies in the middle of the previous year, citing substandard product quality as the reason for the decision.