BKK Post, April 1, 1998. SALWEEN SC

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April 1, 1998. SALWEEN SCANDAL

Six to face illegal logging charges
Enough evidence in hand - Seri

Six people, including the Ban Tak district chief, will be charged with 
illegal logging in the Salween reserve forest.

Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Seri Temiyavej said yesterday 
that he would seek legal action against the district chief, three 
forestry officials, logging tycoon Vinai Panitchayanubarn and Pramual 
Kaewket, manager of Mr Vinai's sawmill for suspected involvement in 
illegal activities in the national park.

The probe results from a fact-finding committee showed that 5,000 pieces 
of logs seized from a sawmill owned by Mr Vinai were felled in the 
national park, said Pol-Lt-Gen Seri.

Mr Vinai allegedly offered a five-million-baht bribe to deputy Forestry 
Department chief Prawat Thanadkha, who seized the logs, to have them 
returned.

Mr Prawat then donated the money to the government's Thais-Help-Thais 
Fund, but the offer was turned down by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who 
later ordered an investigation into the source of the money.

"No action was taken against the tycoon after the illegal logs were 
seized. After the bribe was paid, the seized logs were returned to the 
sawmill. The illegal logs were then processed while legally documented 
logs were kept in the sawmill. It's impossible not to notice a large 
quantity of illegal logs being taken from the forest to the sawmill by 
forestry and district officials. There is enough evidence to charge 
these corrupt officials,' said Pol Lt-Gen Seri.

The CIB chief, who heads a government-appointed investigation team, said 
the four accused officers would face malfeasance charges while Mr Vinai 
and Mr Pramual would be charged with having illegal logs in their 
possession.

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