South-East Asia

Dept to focus on laundering simply

The Department of Special Investigation’s ( DSI) special situations board refused to look into states of criminal organization related to last year’s Senate vote but agreed to investigate complaints of money laundering.

The table, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, met on Thursday to decide whether to launch an investigation into alleged collusion in the poll.

Some of the states include judicial organization, listed under the Criminal Code, as well as crimes listed under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, according to solutions.

The 18-member committee voted 11-4, with three nays, to investigate only promises of money laundering as a DSI sensor found that more than 300 million baht was spent to reportedly resolve votes in the election, in contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the sources said.

The next step will be for DSI key Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam to set up a group of researchers to handle the case. They can get the chilling of property suspected of being linked to the cash fraud issues.

If they find more evidence pointing to criminal organization in the Senate vote, the DSI can also build a probe into those complaints, the sources said.

Any claims related to Senate election law violations will be handled separately by the Election Commission (EC ), they added.

Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supervises the DSI, said after the conference that the DSI may also work with people prosecutors to ensure the research is handled quickly.

Pol Col Tawee said the Oem investigators will then conjure suspects for questioning and evaluate the path of money used in the reported vote-fixing.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday dismissed says the DS I’s determination to not investigate criminal organization was linked to a conference between party leader Newin Chidchob and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday.

” You should ask the Justice Minister about the DS I’s decision”, Mr Anutin said. ” I have nothing to do with any of the senators”.

On Wednesday, Mr Anutin admitted Mr Newin met Thaksin on Sunday. However, he dismissed claims they met to clear the air amid rumours of a growing rift between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Bhumjaithai.

The meeting at Thaksin’s residence in Bang Phlat district came following reports about the alleged collapse of another meeting at a hotel in Bangkok on Feb 24 to discuss ways to resolve the purported rift.

Mr Anutin said he invited Mr Newin to the meeting to discuss the upcoming no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, government policies, and the casino-entertainment complex project.

Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai are said to have clashed over several key issues in recent months. Those include the size of the majority required to pass the charter amendment referendum, the casino complexes and the push to amend Section 256 of the constitution, which would pave the way for a charter rewrite.

It is widely speculated the DS I’s probe into alleged collusion in the Senate election is targeted at the so-called “blue faction”– a group of senators linked to Bhumjaithai.

In a message on Facebook former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the money-laundering probe will take about a year.

Dept to focus on laundering simply

The Department of Special Investigation’s ( DSI) special circumstances board refused to look into states of criminal organization related to last year’s Senate vote but agreed to investigate complaints of money laundering.

The table, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, met on Thursday to decide whether to launch an investigation into alleged cooperation in the election.

Some of the states include judicial organization, listed under the Criminal Code, as well as crimes listed under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, according to solutions.

The 18-member committee voted 11-4, with three nays, to investigate only promises of money laundering as a DSI sensor found that more than 300 million baht was spent to reportedly resolve votes in the election, in contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the sources said.

The next step will be for DSI key Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam to set up a group of researchers to handle the case. They can get the melting of property suspected of being linked to the cash fraud issues.

If they find more evidence pointing to criminal organization in the Senate vote, the DSI can also build a probe into those complaints, the sources said.

Any claims related to Senate election law violations will be handled separately by the Election Commission (EC ), they added.

Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supervises the DSI, said after the meeting that the DSI will also work with public prosecutors to ensure the investigation is handled efficiently.

Pol Col Tawee said the DSI investigators will now summon suspects for questioning and investigate the trail of money used in the alleged vote-fixing.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday dismissed claims the DS I’s decision to not investigate criminal association was linked to a meeting between party founder Newin Chidchob and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday.

” You should ask the Justice Minister about the DS I’s decision”, Mr Anutin said. ” I have nothing to do with any of the senators”.

On Wednesday, Mr Anutin admitted Mr Newin met Thaksin on Sunday. However, he dismissed claims they met to clear the air amid rumours of a growing rift between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Bhumjaithai.

The meeting at Thaksin’s residence in Bang Phlat district came following reports about the alleged collapse of another meeting at a hotel in Bangkok on Feb 24 to discuss ways to resolve the purported rift.

Mr Anutin said he invited Mr Newin to the meeting to discuss the upcoming no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, government policies, and the casino-entertainment complex project.

Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai are said to have clashed over several key issues in recent months. Those include the size of the majority required to pass the charter amendment referendum, the casino complexes and the push to amend Section 256 of the constitution, which would pave the way for a charter rewrite.

It is widely speculated the DS I’s probe into alleged collusion in the Senate election is targeted at the so-called “blue faction”– a group of senators linked to Bhumjaithai.

In a message on Facebook former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the money-laundering probe will take about a year.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra outlined a vision to market Thailand as a world-class tourism place at a global travel trade show in Berlin on Wednesday.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable hospitality, improving infrastructure, promoting the government’s soft energy and ensuring visitors ‘ protection.

She made the remarks during a keynote speech at the Amazing Thailand Networking Event, organised as part of the Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin 2025 ( ITB Berlin 2025 ) event at CityCube in the German capital.

Government official Jirayu Houngsub summarised the important items. He said the season 2025 has been designated as” Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism &amp, Sports Time 2025″ as hospitality is one of the important methods to drive the country’s economic growth.

Ms Paetongtarn said last year, the government boosted GDP through tourism as the number of foreign visitors exceeded the target of 35 million, generating more than €47.4 billion ( 1.7 trillion baht ) or about 15 % of GDP.

She said the government aims to attract 39 million international guests this year and produce €98 billion, with the number of customers from Europe projected at 10.6 million, bringing some €24.2 billion.

In light of this, the state has devised methods to achieve these goals through the Thailand Tourism perception of upgrading Thailand as a world-class tourism location. They include boosting holiday pleasure by improving immigration procedures and immigration exemptions for visitors from 93 countries and territories.

The state also wanted to ensure ensuring holiday protection. Emergency response actions had been devised to help travellers at different tourist areas.

The PM added that system development is another technique to increase tourism. The state seeks to develop Thailand into a local aviation hub to hold 250 million people periodically.

This requires expanding Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang flights, upgrading U-Tapao, Phuket, and Chiang Mai flights, and building fresh flights, including Andaman and Lanna flights.

The government was also committed to promoting sweet power by making the most of local knowledge with the help of technology and highly skilled workers to add significance to Indian products and services.

The prime minister even stressed the importance of making Thailand a global health gateway and boosting eco-tourism.

Adopted father’s killing’ linked to politicians ‘

Former Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation ( PAO ) chief Soonthorn Vilawan and seven of his associates will face a court trial over their alleged involvement in the killing of Chaimet Sitsanitpong, aka” Sor Jor Tong”, Mr Soonthorn’s adopted son.

Sakkasem Nisaiyok, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Attorney-General, yesterday provided an update on development in the case against the eight offenders.

The various seven suspects were identified as Thanasarankorn Techathanatchot, Saksit Chinwong, Thanapat Songsang, Apisit Sodchuen, Sitthichai Sriphakdee, Phatthanon Boonchu and Minyarat Phacharamarnkul.

Chaimet was tragically shot at a house belonging to Mr Soonthorn, next PAO captain, on the day of Dec 11.

The victim was the adopted child of Mr Soonthorn, an important figure in the state and also the natural father of former assistant education secretary Kanokwan Vilawan.

The Crime Suppression Division ( CSD ) said more than 130 witnesses have been questioned as part of the investigation.

The adult suspects are now held at Bangkok Remand Prison, while the girl, Ms Minyarat, is being detained at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution after the event was transferred from local authorities to the CSD.

Law enforcement agents believe that the killing of Chaimet was politically motivated.

Local publications said Chaimet was once considered the right-hand gentleman of Mr Soonthorn, whose family has dominated Prachin Buri elections for years.

Chaimet had supported his family, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, in running for the PAO chair under the Pheu Thai Party during an election, while Mr Soonthorn backed a foe member from the Bhumjaithai Party, the reports say.

After a commission appointed by the OAG’s Criminal Litigation Office reviewed the inspection report, it resolved to report the situation with the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

The claims filed against the defendants include colluding in criminal activities, unlawful possession of firearms and carrying firearms in public without permission.

People are premeditated murder, ordering people to undertake premeditated murder and enabling premeditated murder.

The murder event was officially filed at the Criminal Court yesterday evening.