Police corruption scandal: DSI agent sacked, faces charges; 2 others face probes

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Two Department of Special Investigation agents face disciplinary probes after initial findings showed they were involved in the contraband petrol trade in the far South, associated with racketeering led by former crime-buster Pol Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphan, DSI director-general Suwana Suwanjata said yesterday.

Another agent – Sorrachat Phaeyai – also found to have benefited from Pattani-based businessman Sahachai Jiansermsin has been dishonourably discharged pending prosecution, she said.

The two agents being investigated were identified as Khetrat Charmsil and Achira Yingyong. The probe into their links with alleged wrongdoers would run for 60 days and could be extended for another 30 days.

Sahachai allegedly paid two lots of Bt400,000 to the three DSI agents, as well as unspecified amounts for meals, entertainment plus air tickets and pocket money in free travel abroad, a DSI source said.

The source said a person referred to in related reports as “Lek” was not a DSI agent, but a local politician. The DSI was seeking to find out if Lek took money for DSI agents or merely cited the DSI in false claims.

Police and soldiers are trying to work out nicknames and aliases in lists of people who got bribes, which were seized from Sahachai’s home in raids both before and after the coup on May 22.

— Phuket Gazette Editors