New RFD chief hits out over ‘slanderous’ bribery accusations

[webfact]

New RFD chief hits out over ‘slanderous’ bribery accusations

By The Nation

 

 

THE ROYAL Forestry Department is going after some people who had released three letters accusing its former deputy director-general of being involved in bribery in a high-profile logging case for his promotion to the position of director-general.
 

The accusation has gravely tainted his credibility and the forces under him, as well as the third party who is a “Phu Yai”, according to the source.

 

The department on Friday held a press conference, along with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division commander and the Internal Security Operations Command 4 chief, who have been working with him in a number of forest crime suppression cases.

 

Athapol Charoenshunsa, the RFD’s deputy chief and director of the government’s Forest Protection Operating Centre – a new forest crime suppression command – denied the allegations published in some newspaper columns as “baseless and slanderous”. He said such accusations would create misunderstandings between him and his forces.

 

“The accusation that a bribe was taken from Mu Lan [a wanted Chinese national], which was used for my promotion as director-general is nothing but slander,” said Athapol.

 

Athapol was this week promoted as the new RFD director-general shortly before the accusation was spread.

 

The source said the letters were circulated widely in the department’s internal system as well as that of some other relevant agencies, inflicting grave damage to the reputation of the new chief and the agencies under his command. 

 

The department would try to check past records to see who had entered the systems and released the letters. It was believed that more than one person had done it. The motives could not yet be established.

 

Athapol, along with his senior colleague, Cheewapap Cheewatham, was picked by their former chief to lead the RFD’s forest crime suppression taskforce, Phaya Prai, in 2014.

 

He was then picked as a director of the centre in 2016, while being promoted as RFD’s deputy chief. Under his directive, they went after a number of forest crime cases, including the high-profile logging gang believed to be among the country’s largest, led by Mu Lan, who escaped arrest this year and is absconding.

 

Another source working closely with the centre said bribery was unlikely, as Athapol did not work alone in suppressing the gang.

They needed to consult each other before making any moves.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30359716

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-03

[Samui Bodoh]

"...The accusation that a bribe was taken from Mu Lan [a wanted Chinese national], which was used for my promotion as director-general is nothing but slander,” said Athapol.

Athapol was this week promoted as the new RFD director-general shortly before the accusation was spread..."

 

I believe him 100%

 

How the hell could anyone doubt the honesty or credibility of a Thai State employee? I mean seriously...

 

 

(sarcasm alert)

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The accusation has gravely tainted his credibility and the forces under him, as well as the third party who is a “Phu Yai”, according to the source.

in other words it is all about pettiness

[mok199]

Deny , Deflect, Deny...nothing new here...

[Lungstib]

Its an terrible thing to suggest, but anyone having lived in Thailand a few years wouldn't believe that a forestry official had a name so good that it could be damaged by the suggestion of corruption. The whole things sounds like someone with insider information has decided to speak out. And the idea that bribery was unlikely because he didn't work alone is just laughable. Just take a look at the recent education ministries corruption to scoff that.

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

Deny , Deflect, Deny...nothing new here...

And sue - that usually suppresses the truth being published.

[Bluespunk]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The accusation that a bribe was taken from Mu Lan [a wanted Chinese national], which was used for my promotion as director-general is nothing but slander,” said Athapol.

Actually, if differently stated, it could be libellous as well. 

[Odysseus123]

The guy has a point.

 

Why would he have to deny corruption on the joyous occasion of his new promotion?

[off road pat]

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...The accusation that a bribe was taken from Mu Lan [a wanted Chinese national], which was used for my promotion as director-general is nothing but slander,” said Athapol.

Athapol was this week promoted as the new RFD director-general shortly before the accusation was spread..."

 

I believe him 100%

 

How the hell could anyone doubt the honesty or credibility of a Thai State employee? I mean seriously...

 

 

(sarcasm alert)

Oh Yess, You made my day THX.

[Redline]

Check his and his family’s bank accounts.

Scream fake news, and deny it to the end!