South-East Asia (Page 1,382)

Somyot, 7 others on hook in Vorayuth case

The Attorney-General has indicted former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung and seven others for helping Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, the scion of the family behind the Red Bull empire, escape prosecution in connection with the 2012 hit-and-run case.

Prayut Phetcharakhun, a spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), said at a media briefing on Tuesday that the indictment was based on the recommendation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

In September last year, the NACC accused them of being involved in a 2020 decision by the prosecutors to drop charges against Mr Vorayuth, which included speeding and hit-and-run.

That decision sparked a public uproar, prompting the prime minister at the time to order fresh probes into how it had happened.

Mr Prayut said on Tuesday the attorney-general had instructed prosecutors at the OAG’s crime suppression bureau to proceed with the indictment against the accused.

Pol Gen Somyot was indicted for malfeasance or dereliction of duty while serving as a member of the House committee on law, justice and police affairs, as well as for supporting officers to commit unlawful actions to help Mr Vorayuth evade or receive less punishment, among other charges, Mr Prayut said.

The others who face similar charges include Nate Naksuk, a former deputy attorney-general, Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai Mekprasertsuk, a former commander of the Royal Thai Police’s Central Police Forensic Science Division, and Pol Col Viradol Tabtimdee, a former investigator at Thong Lor police station.

Nate: Faces similar charges

Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob, who served as an assistant national police chief at the time, was also found guilty but on a less serious disciplinary charge, according to the NACC.

The NACC has decided to ask the prime minister to consider launching disciplinary action against Pol Gen Permpoon as stipulated by the Anti-Corruption Act, Mr Prayut said.

Previously, the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) called on the prime minister to reconsider the appointment of Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon due to allegations he helped Mr Vorayuth evade prosecution.

MFP MP Teerajchai Phunthumas said Pol Gen Permpoon had altered the official speed estimate to below the safety threshold and had reassigned police officers who wanted to request a red notice for Mr Vorayuth, leading to the court dismissal and Mr Vorayuth’s escape overseas.

Even though the punishment given to Pol Gen Permpoon is a disciplinary one, Mr Teerajchai noted that Srettha Thavisin is both the prime minister and president of the Police Commission.

“The prime minister should consider the suitability of Pol Gen Permpoon for the education portfolio,” Mr Teerajchai said.

Mr Vorayuth is accused of killing a police officer with his Ferrari in September 2012, a charge he denies.

Mr Vorayuth crashed his Ferrari into a motorcycle driven by Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert in the early hours of Sept 3, 2012, in Bangkok’s Thong Lor neighbourhood.

Instead of stopping to help the victim, Mr Vorayuth, then in his early 20s, allegedly drove off, dragging the victim’s body around 200 metres from the scene of the accident, without informing the authorities.

Following a long investigation, he was hit with three charges, but he has not been brought to justice. After repeatedly failing to appear in court, he fled the country in 2017. The statute of limitations on some charges has already expired. The last charge against him, of reckless driving causing death, will expire in 2027.

Vorayuth: Not yet brought to justice

A fact-finding probe will be launched in response to a media report involving the alleged sexual molestation of a female prosecutor by a senior prosecutor and an unfair transfer, the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) says.

Watcharin Phanurat, a spokesman of the OAG, revealed at a press conference held yesterday that the OAG had not received a complaint from the female prosecutor but rather had learned about the scandal from media reports.

The accused was identified in the news report as a deputy attorney-general, so the OAG would have to conduct the fact-finding investigation before it could address questions surrounding the sexual scandal and the allegedly unfair transfer.

The scandal broke out on Feb 23 when a 37-year-old prosecutor filed a complaint with police at Thalang station in Phuket claiming she had been sexually molested by a senior prosecutor when they met in Bangkok on Feb 19.

According to the complaint, the pair went to have dinner at a seafood restaurant in Wang Thong Lang district in Bangkok. At some point, the senior prosecutor hugged her without her consent, encouraged her to drink wine and invited her to his newly-built home in Ramkhamhaeng.

After they finished dinner at 8.40pm the senior prosecutor insisted on visiting his house and asked her to accompany him in his car. She felt unable to refuse due to his seniority.

While inside the car, the senior prosecutor put his arm around her and asked to kiss her cheek. She told him to back off, upon which he told her to exit the vehicle before driving off.

The woman claimed the incident upset the senior prosecutor, who later told a meeting that she had a history of demanding kickbacks.

The woman said she had subsequently been transferred to a position that she did not request, which she considered a form of harassment.

The cabinet has proposed to promote royal fabric patterns designed by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday on July 28, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The government has responded to HRH Princess Sirivannavari’s four new series of royal fabric patterns by promoting attires that use the patterns, Mr Srettha announced after a cabinet meeting yesterday.

The four series include the Vajiraphak, Khor Chaofah Sirivannavari, heart and Dok Rak Ratphakdi motifs.

Mr Srettha has also instructed Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich to expedite the review of an intangible cultural heritage list in a bid to propose Thai national costumes to Unesco.

The prime minister earlier called on the public to join government officials and state enterprise staff in wearing yellow shirts every Monday to show loyalty to His Majesty the King and to mark his 72nd birthday.

The Vajiraphak motif.

Newly appointed chief government whip Wisut Chainarun said yesterday he is prepared to pay a visit to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if the latter wants to see him.

Mr Wisut, a Pheu Thai-list MP, expressed concern that his visit might disturb Thaksin, who may prefer to spend time alone with his family. But he said he is ready to meet the ex-prime minister if Thaksin expressed a desire to see him.

He pointed out there is no rule prohibiting him or others from visiting Thaksin or seeking his advice while noting Thaksin’s contributions to the county.

“People from other countries also seek his opinions and advice. Why won’t we benefit from his expertise? If there’s an opportunity, I’ll meet him,” Mr Wisut said. He said the government was the most likely to benefit from Thaksin’s experience and stressed that Thaksin had never intervened in the affairs of the House of Representatives or those of Pheu Thai.

Mr Wisut was appointed the chief government whip in an order signed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to enhance efficiency in parliamentary coordination.

In the same order, Pheu Thai MP for Surin Krumanit Sangphum was named the first deputy government whip, Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong the second, Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok Thirarat Samretwanich, the third, and Pheu Thai list-MP Chanin Rungthanakiat was named a government whip. Pheu Thai list-MP Adisorn Piengkes reportedly stepped down from the chief government whip position due to health problems.

Mr Wisut expressed confidence the House meetings would not collapse due to a lack of quorum, and the government MPs were asked to be present in the chamber to fulfil their parliamentary duties.

However, he urged the public to refrain from inviting MPs to events on Wednesdays and Thursdays as they are obliged to attend House meetings and committee meetings on those days.

“In every government whip meeting, we ensure whips are informed about the agenda and convey it to their respective parties. This gives us confidence that we can maintain control over the votes on the government side,” he said.