Politics Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn Dismissed for Corruption Amid Checkered Career

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Thai PBS

 

Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, the former director of the National Parks Office, has been dismissed from government service, effective retroactively from September 30, 2024, following a guilty verdict from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for corruption. This decision was formalized on June 6 by Jatuporn Buruspat, the permanent secretary-general of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, following recommendations from the ministry’s Civil Service Commission.

 

The NACC found Chaiwat guilty of gross disciplinary violations related to the bidding process for constructing a park ranger office building in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi province. The bidding involved two contractors, Tha Yang Construction and Phetchaburi Yutthana Construction, which were revealed to be owned by the same individual. The lack of accessible supervision allowed the construction to proceed unchecked, and the NACC alleged Chaiwat received a one million baht reward for facilitating this bid collusion.

 

Chaiwat has been a polarizing figure, known for his strong conservation efforts but also infamous for controversial actions against Karen settlers in 2011, which led to forced evictions and international attention after the burning of their lodgings. His reputation was further tarnished by the suspected enforced disappearance of Karen conservationist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen in 2014, for which Chaiwat was arrested and charged with murder. Although he denied the allegations and claimed Porlajee was released, the case was revived in 2018 with new evidence, including DNA-matched bone fragments found in a burned oil drum in the park.

 

Though Chaiwat was given a suspended sentence for malfeasance in 2023, his controversial career witnessed a turn when he helped expose corruption within the Department of National Parks in 2022. He orchestrated a sting operation that caught Ratchada Suriyakul Na Ayudhya, the then director-general, taking bribes for promotions, leading to Ratchada’s dismissal.

 

Despite his role in corruption exposure, Chaiwat's dismissal underscores the ongoing battle against corruption and misconduct within Thailand’s public sector, as the government seeks to root out these deep-seated issues across its institutions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-06-16

 

 

[petermik]

Starting at the top....or are these folk untouchable?