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July 1st, 1997.
Bangkok Post
Judge fired, no pension
Somchai Udomwong, the senior judge who in February freed on bail a
suspected heroin trafficker wanted in the United States, was dismissed
by the Judicial Commission without pension yesterday.
The commission found evidence indicating Mr Somchai had committed
irregularities in the release of Li Yun Chung, who jumped bail and fled
to Burma before being returned and extradited to the US.
The former deputy chief justice of the Criminal Court is expected to
face criminal charges in connection with the Li case.
A source in the Judicial Commission said the panel based its guilty
verdict on two key pieces of evidence - a land deal between Mr Somchai
and Li's broker, and records of his telephone conversations with people
known to have close relations with Li.
The dismissal order was signed by Justice Minister Suvit Khunkitti and
took effect immediately.
The Nation
Judge sacked over Li's bail
THE Judicial Commission yesterday sacked Criminal Court Deputy Chief
Justice Somchai Udomwong for granting bail to a drug suspect wanted in
connection with a record heroin haul in the United States.
The decision clears the way for further possible criminal charges
against the senior judge as well as disciplinary investigations into
other high-ranking court officials implicated in the bail arrangement.
The 11-member panel voted unanimously to sack Somchai without pension
for signing a Feb 7 order freeing Li Yun-chung on bail. The panel found
the deputy chief justice had abused his judicial discretion and had an
ulterior motive of personal gains.
Supreme Court President Sakda Mokhamakkul, who chaired the committee,
said that Somchai's ruling should be viewed as an individual case and
not as a general picture of the judiciary.
Sakda said that the Justice Ministry will be responsible for initiating
separate disciplinary investigations into other court officials accused
of helping to arrange the bail order and that police are free to bring
criminal charges against Somchai and any accomplices.
Li, alias Pongsak Rojanasakul, was granted bail during an extradition
hearing for his suspected role in a 1991 shipment of 486 kilogrammes of
heroin into California, the largest drug haul in US history.
He fled to Burma after his release but was captured and sent back to
Thailand in May. His return brought to light allegations that he paid
Bt13 million through go-betweens for the bail arrangement. He was
extradited to the United States last month and arraigned in Brooklyn
(New York) federal court on drug trafficking changes.
Somchai was assigned to an inactive post in the Court of Appeals,
pending a disciplinary investigation into the bribery allegation. The
investigation concluded that he acted with an ulterior motive but may
not have been the recipient of the bribes. It recommended dismissal with
pension. The judicial committee decided on a harsher penalty, stripping
the senior judge of his pension.
Kukiet Sunthornbura, permanent secretary for justice, disclosed that the
committee found that Somchai had grossly violated his judicial duty,
possibly in connection with an illicit financial reward.
He hinted at the possibility of criminal proceedings against Somchai,
saying police should identify people suspected of involvement in
arranging and taking kickbacks in exchange for granting Li bail.
Jaran Pakdeetanakul, secretary-general of the Judicial Affairs Office,
said yesterday that the judicial committee made a recommendation that
should evidence in the investigation report against Somchai implicate
other officials, further disciplinary probes should be launched.
Jaran said two judicial officials, a former secretary of the Court of
Appeals and a deputy chief justice of Court Region 1, may be the targets
of a new investigation, following accusations that they acted as the
go-betweens.
Justice Minister Suwit Khunkitti said yesterday that he had approved
Somchai's dismissal, adding that he could also face a severe penalty if
convicted on bribery charges.
Somchai could not be reached for comment yesterday and apparently has
not been seen in his office since last Wednesday, according to court
officials. The two officials suspected of involvement in the bribe
allegation are on leave of absence.
"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE. ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION." "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."
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