Senators of Thailand to have issues with a money-laundering probe

Thirty senators will on Wednesday file a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam for neglect of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

The complaints will come after the DSI’s special cases board on March 6 ruled to investigate money-laundering allegations concerning the most recent Senate election.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is the chair of the board. Senator Chatwat Saengpetch later questioned its decision.

As one of the 30 senators who will file the complaint, Mr Chatwat said the DSI had been able to forward related evidence on to the Election Commission (EC) at the end of February, but that it had not done so. The DSI, later, accused the EC of obfuscation.

“Was the DSI politically intervened in any way? Or was it meant to intimidate?” Mr Chatwat asked.

The DSI is operated under the Justice Ministry.

Political analysts have generally understood Senate election-related complaints as being politically motivated — a tit-for-tat between political camps.

Mr Chatwat, however, said he was following procedure in his position as chair of the Senate committee on constitutional organisations, anti-corruption and good governance.

Responding to the recent complaint, Pol Col Tawee said he did not believe the move was political.

The investigation into the money trail involving some 7,000 people had commenced, he said. Forensic evidence would decide whether there was collusion in the Senate election process, he said.

“We’re not bullying anyone and we’re not helping anyone. We just want the truth and justice to speak for themselves,” the justice minister said.

The names he had, which were involved in the alleged collusion, matched those of 138 senators, Pol Col Tawee added. But none have yet been formally accused of anything.

Pol Col Tawee also dismissed as irrelevant complaints filed against him relating to his alleged overseeing of the stay in Police General Hospital, rather than in a prison cell, of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra upon Thaksin’s return from exile overseas.