Bangkok’s Huai Khwang police are expected to issue warrants for the arrest of three officials at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), who are accused of extorting money from a group of Chinese nationals during a raid on the house of a former consul-general of the Republic of Nauru in the Sathorn Road area on December 22nd.
The three were among the five DSI officials, police from the 191 Patrol and Special Operation Division and an army officer from the Security Operations Centre who raided the house, which was rented to a Chinese businessman. About 11 Chinese nationals, including one who was on Interpol’s wanted list, were found in the house, but all but one were released after about nine million baht was paid to the officials.
Informed police sources say the three DSI officials were among those captured by the CCTV system in the house.
The bribery scandal led to the abrupt removal of the DSI Director-General Triyarith Temahivong, by order of Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, on January 18th. Triyarith exchanged positions with the chief of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol.
The sources say that, on Thursday night, Triyarith reported to police investigators at the Police Club to give his side of the story.
The Thai Foreign Ministry has been asked by the police to inform the Republic of Nauru about the investigation process pertaining to the raid.
