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BKK POST:SALWEEN SCANDAL / BRIBE PR
- Subject: BKK POST:SALWEEN SCANDAL / BRIBE PR
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 16:13:00
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