PUBLISHED: 13 Mar 2025 at 05: 57
The Department of Special Investigation’s ( DSI) money-laundering probe into alleged collusion in last year’s Senate election will likely wrap up in three months, Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong said on Wednesday.
About 140 senators could also be summoned for questioning by at least 41 DSI investigators and prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney-General ( OAG ), he said.
Fees will be pressed if sufficient information is found, Pol Col Tawee said.
The secretary denied the DSI analysis was a witch-hunt for political get.
Meanwhile, a group of 81 senators petitioned the National Anti-Corruption ( NACC ) calling for an investigation into what they believe to be malfeasance committed by Pol Col Tawee and DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam in connection with the Senate election probe.
The walk followed the March 6 selection by the DS I’s unique circumstances panel to investigate money-laundering claims related to last year’s multi-level Senate surveys suspected to be fraught with collusion among some individuals.
The party alleged the DSI took up the sensor despite having no power to do so, said Sen Chatwat Saengpetch who led 80 different lawmakers to submit the petition to the NACC on Wednesday.
They maintained the poll-related investigations fall within the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC ).
Signed by 105 legislators, the plea was received on Wednesday by NACC secretary-general Sarote Phuengramphan.
The cause behind the DS I’s walk was to stage false charges against the legislators and observe them legally penalised for crimes they did not undertake, said Pol Maj Gen Chatwat.
He said the findings of the Senate surveys have been endorsed by the EC under Section 107 of the law.
As a past police analyst, Pol Maj Gen Chatwat said he was curious to know what information the DSI has to support its analysis.
He also questioned why the DSI is pressing forward even though it lacks the authority to do so. Its sensor perhaps even duplicate the function of the EC which is looking into the reported election fraud, he noted.
Pol Maj Gen Chatwat said he consider the DS I’s research is evidence of the company’s contact to political meddling.
The legislator also confirmed the Senate’s anti-graft council was in the middle of studying a plan to break the DSI.