PACC to dive in on Phuket corruption case on Monday

PHUKET: A Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) team will begin its investigation on Monday into extortion charges lodged last month by 41 members of the Phuket dive community (story here).

“At least nine PACC officers will form the investigation team. They will stay for as long as it takes to ensure that we have enough information to proceed with the case,” Director of Suppression of Corruption in Public Sector 4 Wannop Somjintanakul told the Phuket Gazette today.

“They will question all parties involved, including the accused police officers and the dive instructors who filed the complaints against them.”

The PACC declined to reveal any of the information already gathered.

“We have some information regarding the extortion allegations. However, we cannot reveal how many officers are under investigation or what charges will be pressed,” Lt Col Wannop said.

“Any officer found guilty will be prosecuted. We will announce our findings and relevant charges as soon as we can.”

PACC Secretary Prayong Preeyachitt vowed on March 27 to organize a thorough investigation that would conclude with legal action against any officer found guilty of extortion (story here).

Then, on April 2, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiewruangnont revealed that he had ordered the transfer of Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn amid graft charges levied against him (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin