The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is to ask the Criminal Court for Corruption Cases to revoke the bail granted to former Kaeng Krachan national park chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-akson and the three other suspects, or to set a new bail condition.
Chaiwat, currently director of Conservation Office in north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, Boontaen Busarakham, Paithoon Chaemthet and Krisnanapong Chamthet have been charged with multiple counts in connection with the disappearance and murder of Karen community rights activist Poralajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen about five years ago.
A well-informed DSI source told Thai PBS that, since his release on bail on November 12th, Chaiwat has given several interviews, to the Press, TV stations and social media, in which allegedly inaccurate statements about the case were made, causing difficulties for DSI officials in the gathering of evidence and fear among some witnesses, to the extent that some of them are reluctant to cooperate with investigators.
The source said that the DSI will ask the court to revoke the bail of four suspects, or to forbid them from giving information, to either the professional or social media, if their bail is not revoked.
The court will also be asked to prevent the four men from entering Kaeng Krachan national park, noting that several prosecution witnesses are living there.
The DSI had objected to their release on bail, but the court overruled the objection and granted the bail at 800,000 baht each.
Billy was arrested on April 17th, 2014 for allegedly stealing wild honey in the park. Chaiwat has claimed that Billy was also released on the same day, but he has not been seen since.
