Ex-Prosecutor Arrested in Bangkok for 22-Year-Old Bribery Case

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In a dramatic turn of events, former prosecutor Kongsiri, 67, was captured by the Crime Suppression Division yesterday. He was found hiding in his home in Bangkok's Bang Khun Non district after failing to appear for a bribery verdict.

Kongsiri, ex-Yasothon province prosecutor, allegedly accepted a bribe of 100,000 baht (about US$2,930) back in 2001. He was accused of taking the money to sway the outcome of a drug case. An arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 3 on December 26, 2023, for misusing his judicial power.

As a provincial prosecutor, Kongsiri was in charge of reviewing cases and influencing prosecution decisions based on investigation reports. Instead, he allegedly misused his position by accepting a bribe from a drug suspect's family to alter the case outcome.

After being charged, Kongsiri initially followed legal procedures. However, he later absconded, knowing he faced a potential three-year, four-month jail sentence from the Supreme Court.

Upon discovering his whereabouts in Bangkok, officials promptly arrested him. Kongsiri has admitted to the charges during interrogation and is now in custody, pending further legal proceedings by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 3.