Former Kanchanaburi police chief accused of tampering with Bt30m lottery investigation

[webfact]

Former Kanchanaburi police chief accused of tampering with Bt30m lottery investigation

By Suriya Patathayo 
The Nation 

 

File photo: Pol Maj-General Sutthi Puangpikul

 

THE FORMER police chief of Kanchanaburi has been officially accused of tampering with an investigation regarding a Bt30-million lottery dispute.
 

Within the next 30 days, the case against Pol Maj-General Sutthi Puangpikul will be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). 

 

Sutthi was transferred out of Kanchanaburi province last month over the lottery scandal. 

 

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nongharnpitak said yesterday legal proceedings against Sutthi had already begun. 

 

 

At Thitiraj’s behest, Crimes Suppression Division chief Pol Maj-General Maitree Chimcherd lodged a complaint against Sutthi with Counter-Corruption Division chief Maj-General Kamol Rienracha. “He is accused of violating Article 157. If convicted, he faces between one and 10 years in jail,” Kamol said. 

 

Article 157 of the Criminal Code bars officials from abusing their authority or neglecting to carry out their duty because of corruption. 

 

The complaint addresses Sutthi’s role in the investigation into whether five lottery tickets, which won Bt30 million in the November 1 draw last year, were illicitly taken from their legitimate owner. 

 

Teacher Preecha Kraikruan lodged a complaint with Muang Kanchanaburi Police Station last November accusing retired policeman Lieutenant Charoon Wimul of illegitimately taking the lottery tickets that he had bought. 

 

Preecha produced lottery vendor Rattanaporn Supathip as his key witness, who said he had bought the tickets from her.

 

Both Preecha and Rattanaporn are now facing several charges related to alleged efforts to appropriate Charoon’s lottery winnings. 

 

Since the dispute caught the media spotlight, Sutthi has been widely seen as taking sides with Preecha. 

 

After Charoon petitioned for help, the CIB took over the case and found several alleged irregularities in how local policemen had handled the case. 

 

Several more officials might be charged in connection with the alleged conspiracy, authorities have said. 

 

Kamol said yesterday that his agency would conclude the investigation of Sutthi’s alleged wrongdoing and submit its results to the NACC within 30 days. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340434

 

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[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

After Charoon petitioned for help, the CIB took over the case and found several alleged irregularities in how local policemen had handled the case. 

so seemingly lost in all this new drama is the fact that the initial front-line involving the local police was bent, not hard to believe this is the norm

[jacko45k]

Why do I feel finding an honest policeman with integrity is akin to finding a needle in a haystack?

[james.d]

14 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Why do I feel finding an honest policeman with integrity is akin to finding a needle in a haystack?

The old tune will come out,, "pay more salary and we shall be honest..i promise"

Edited March 8, 2018 by james.d

[RichardColeman]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Article 157 of the Criminal Code bars officials from abusing their authority or neglecting to carry out their duty because of corruption. 

Maybe they should move it to Article 1. they are probably bored and given up reading by reaching 157 - which explains a lot. 

[lvr181]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Maybe they should move it to Article 1. they are probably bored and given up reading by reaching 157 - which explains a lot. 

Yup, or just don't understand the Code. Sgt Schultz defence - "I know nothing".  

[chama]

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Why do I feel finding an honest policeman with integrity is akin to finding a needle in a haystack?

Because finding an honest policeman is akin to finding a needle in ta very large haystack..