Special-case criteria must be reviewed, Thai DSI chief told

[webfact]

Special-case criteria must be reviewed, DSI chief told
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

Justice minister wants agency to go back to accepting cases approved by panel, instead of just based on chief's decision

BANGKOK: -- In a move to stop future political intervention in the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya yesterday instructed new DSI chief Suwana Suwanjutha to review the special-case criteria and ensure that all cases get the Special Case Committee's approval first.

Suwana has been given two days to review the criteria before reporting back, Paiboon said.

After holding a policy meeting with Suwana and other DSI executives yesterday, Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

In order to avoid this, he said, the agency should return to strictly working under the 21-member Special Case Committee, chaired by the prime minister, he said.

Although the Special Case Investigation Act lists 36 cases that the DSI can automatically take up, all cases from now on should be thoroughly scrutinised by the committee first, which may lead to delays but should yield better results, he said.

He also asked to see a report on the cases that the DSI says are already 80 per cent complete. He said this report would be used to study the characteristics of the special cases as well as the investigation methods used. He said he always wanted to see whom DSI probes had affected and that this should help show how the DSI can be reformed, Paiboon said.

When asked if he wanted to check on the cases because they were politically related and stemmed from protests led by red shirts and People’s Democratic Reform Committee supporters, Paiboon said all the defendants were Thai citizens, adding that the report should not differentiate. He also insisted that he would ensure that there is no division or disunity.

Suwana said the minister has a clear policy about DSI's work criteria and that she, as DSI chief, would cut down on using her own personal discretion because all case investigations should uphold the rule of the law. She pointed out that an individual's personal opinion would affect work.

She added that she was not worried about taking over as DSI chief because she had been working in the justice sector all along and that she wanted to help fix the agency's image.

She went on to say that in order to fix the image successfully, it would require cooperation from within the DSI, while also requiring her to be knowledgeable and more hard-working than usual. She said she would call a meeting with her deputies and DSI executives today to work on the criteria review.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Special-case-criteria-must-be-reviewed-DSI-chief-t-30246571.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-30

[cloudhopper]

"She went on to say that in order to fix the image successfully,..."

This is of course what it's all about, like everything else here.

[smutcakes]

"After holding a policy meeting with Suwana and other DSI executives yesterday, Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the

DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

In order to avoid this, he said, the agency should return to strictly working under the 21-member Special Case Committee, chaired by the prime minister, he said."

So his grand plan to reduce the chances of political influence is to have the DSI chief work under a Committee presumably appointed and Chaired by himself and the appointed PM. Sounds a wonderful and fool proof plan.

This is all of course under a DSI chief which was nominated and unanimously voted in by him as well.

[NongKhaiKid]

So panels can't be politically influenced ?

[ramrod711]

Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

[chainarong]

A Panel if selected right would be more balanced than an opinion from one eyed sacked former DSI Tarit, given the right people the panel would work , not everyone in Thailand is corrupt, I 'm not.???

[fab4]

Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

I hear the Junta is looking at changing the curriculum to stress a "revised" approach to History. You'd be ideal as an advisor.............................

[Dogmatix]

If I remember rightly the DSI was established under the 1997 constitution to investigate cases that police refused to investigate properly and/ or cases where the police were the accused. It seems to have strayed very far from its original objectives and politicians from both camps are to blame.

[Roadman]

So when elections are held and according to the Pheau Thai crystal gazers they walk back in then mouth piece Yingluck instead of another lapdog Tarit under directions of one of Thaksin's thugs as the real power caller orders the DSI which cases are in the interest or not of their future and their patron, is going to sort the problem. Really!!! It seems one lot of idiots has been replaced with another.

Place the DSI under the judicial arm and kept all influence and control out of the reach of politicians.

[ramrod711]

Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

I hear the Junta is looking at changing the curriculum to stress a "revised" approach to History. You'd be ideal as an advisor.............................

And you, as ever, are in denial. Evasive, non relevant posts are your specialty, troll away.

[Baerboxer]

"After holding a policy meeting with Suwana and other DSI executives yesterday, Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the

DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

In order to avoid this, he said, the agency should return to strictly working under the 21-member Special Case Committee, chaired by the prime minister, he said."

So his grand plan to reduce the chances of political influence is to have the DSI chief work under a Committee presumably appointed and Chaired by himself and the appointed PM. Sounds a wonderful and fool proof plan.

This is all of course under a DSI chief which was nominated and unanimously voted in by him as well.

Yes, much simpler before. Thaksin told Tarit what to do, and he tried to do it.

No need for committees, the law, justice or any of that crap. Streamlining a la Shin,

[Baerboxer]

Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

Hopefully, what it means is that a DSI chief won't spend all his/her time prosecuting and threatening people for blowing whistles, while ignoring grenade, bomb and automatic weapons attacks against peaceful protesters.

I hear the Junta is looking at changing the curriculum to stress a "revised" approach to History. You'd be ideal as an advisor.............................

Can't be more inaccurate than the Shin attempts at re-writing reality in their history can it?

Wonder what all their spin doctors are really up to at the moment.

[Thai at Heart]

21 people panel? Now I know what they can use that meeting room with the video conference equipment.

How does a 21 person panel get anything done?

[smutcakes]

"After holding a policy meeting with Suwana and other DSI executives yesterday, Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the

DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

In order to avoid this, he said, the agency should return to strictly working under the 21-member Special Case Committee, chaired by the prime minister, he said."

So his grand plan to reduce the chances of political influence is to have the DSI chief work under a Committee presumably appointed and Chaired by himself and the appointed PM. Sounds a wonderful and fool proof plan.

This is all of course under a DSI chief which was nominated and unanimously voted in by him as well.

Yes, much simpler before. Thaksin told Tarit what to do, and he tried to do it.

No need for committees, the law, justice or any of that crap. Streamlining a la Shin,

So again no change than before.

In fact its worse, at least Thaksin did not choose Tarit.

[Baerboxer]

"After holding a policy meeting with Suwana and other DSI executives yesterday, Paiboon explained that in recent years the DSI took up cases at the

DSI chief's personal discretion, which opened the door for political influence.

In order to avoid this, he said, the agency should return to strictly working under the 21-member Special Case Committee, chaired by the prime minister, he said."

So his grand plan to reduce the chances of political influence is to have the DSI chief work under a Committee presumably appointed and Chaired by himself and the appointed PM. Sounds a wonderful and fool proof plan.

This is all of course under a DSI chief which was nominated and unanimously voted in by him as well.

Yes, much simpler before. Thaksin told Tarit what to do, and he tried to do it.

No need for committees, the law, justice or any of that crap. Streamlining a la Shin,

So again no change than before.

In fact its worse, at least Thaksin did not choose Tarit.

Indeed. Wonder if Tarit approached Thaksin and offered his services or vice versa?

At least with a committee there is a chance, not much maybe, of some discussion. No discussion allowed with Thaksin. The DSI was changed into being an instrument to attack Shin critics and those who would not bow to pressure - a long way for its intended purpose. Serious cases were ignored while cartoonists, journalists, protesters and anyone else who spoke against Shin interests was targeted.

So we will have to wait and see how they act before saying there is no change won't we?