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BKK POST:SALWEEN SCANDAL / BRIBE PR



February 21, 1998


                                     



               SALWEEN SCANDAL / BRIBE PROBE EXPANDS

              Independent
              investigation of
              officials
              considered 

              CCC coordinating with state agencies 

              The Salween logging scandal took a new turn yesterday with
              the Commission to Counter Corruption considering an
              independent investigation of officials suspected of involvement.

              Opas Arunin, chairman of the anti-graft body, yesterday said the
              CCC was coordinating with state agencies concerned for
              information pertaining to the scandal.

              CCC secretary-general Klanarong Chanti has been told to
              monitor new developments closely and to be prepared to launch
              an investigation when there is sufficient information.

              Mr Opas said he believed there was a link between the Salween
              scandal and the five-million-baht cash recently delivered by hand
              to the home of Prawat Thanadkha, deputy chief of the Forestry
              Department. The scandal broke when Mr Prawat took the
              money to Government House and offered to donate it to the
              Thai-Help-Thai Fund.

              "We are gathering facts and evidence in addition to the (seized)
              logs and the five million baht. The commission will keep updating
              information," Mr Opas said.

              Police on Thursday sketched the man who delivered the cash in
              a cardboard box to Mr Prawat's home.

              Pol Lt-Gen Seri Temiyavej, chief of the Central Investigation
              Bureau who is in charge of an investigation to find the source of
              the cash, yesterday quoted Mr Prawat as saying he recognised
              the face sketched by the police with the help of Mr Prawat's wife
              Juree.

              "I know the man in the sketch and he is the one who offered me
              the five-million-baht bribe," Mr Prawat was quoted as saying.

              However, Mrs Juree could not identify the man claiming she was
              too busy cooking to have a clear look at him.

              Pol Lt-Gen Seri yesterday refused to say whether the face in the
              sketch could belong to Vinai Panichayanubarn, a prominent
              logging businessman. But he said Mr Prawat admitted knowing
              Mr Vinai.

              Pol Lt-Gen Seri said no arrest warrant would be issued "for the
              time being" since the police investigation was still incomplete.

              Pol Col Visanu Muangpraesri, who leads the investigation, said
              yesterday Mr Vinai had already been questioned but denied any
              knowledge about the money.

              Mr Vinai owns a logging company called Saha Vanakij (2499).

              The police investigation has also expanded to include an
              operation of another logging tycoon, Som Chankrachang.

              A team of police investigators went to Mr Som's house off
              Phaholyothin road near Saphan Kwai yesterday to question his
              son, Sitthichai.

              Details of the interrogation were not available, however.

              Meanwhile, Third Army commander Lt-Gen Thanom
              Watcharaput yesterday denied reports he had given the
              greenlight to logging activities in the Salween National Park.

              The officer said he was ready for legal consequences if he was
              found to have done anything wrong in connection with the
              Salween scandal.

              He said it was the Third Army which reported illegal logging
              activities in the Salween National Park to the government in
              1996, but no-one, including the Forestry Department, had taken
              any action until it became a media sensation.

              He said the Third Army had even suggested Karen refugees be
              moved out of the park to prevent damage to the forest, but the
              Interior Ministry had not taken any action.

              Lt-Gen Thanom also criticised non-government organisations
              working in the national park to help the Karens.

              "The NGOs have to do something because without the Karens
              they will have no job left. This is not their home and I see no
              reason why they should love our country more than we do," he
              said.

              The Third Army chief admitted knowing Mr Som. He claimed
              the tycoon had met him when he was still a junior officer while
              seeking justice for one of his workers who had been shot to
              death.

              Lt-Gen Thanom claimed he had not seen Mr Som since then.

              The officer added he wanted the government to take the matter
              seriously and not let it die down when the media stopped paying
              attention to the story.

              He also criticised the Forestry Department for its alleged failure
              to protect the country's forests.

              "I want to ask if the Forestry Department has done its duty as
              well as it should have."

              Lt-Gen Thanom added he did not believe Mr Prawat's claim he
              did not see the man who delivered the cash.

              "It's just impossible for (Mr Prawat) not to see the person who
              walked into his house with five million baht in his hands," said
              Lt-Gen Thanom.




                                     




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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 21, 1998