Latest news with #DepartmentofSpecialInvestigation
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
DSI to assist probe into sex scandal rocking the country's monastic order
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has been asked to assist the Central Investigation Bureau's (CIB) probe into the latest sex scandal rocking the country's monastic order. The move was announced by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, on Monday, as he pledged to take firm action against monks who are found to have acted in ways which could negatively impact the public's confidence in the Buddhist clergy. He said the decision to involve the DSI in the investigation was taken due to the case's potential impact on religious sentiments. The scandal came to light after authorities raided the home of a woman known as Sika Golf ("Ms Golf") as part of an investigation into the misappropriation of temple funds. Instead, they found a cache of images and video clips showing several senior monks engaging in sexual activities with the woman in question. Mr Phumtham said he has asked the DSI chief to support the CIB's investigation into the case. He said the agencies must work together to get to the bottom of the case as soon as possible, in a bid to limit the reputational damage to the Buddhist clergy. "This doesn't mean that the case will be transferred to the DSI. Instead, the DSI will assist with intelligence support, while the CIB leads the investigation," he said. Separately, the Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1 said it is looking into Ms Golf's links to online gambling operations. According to its commander, Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, early evidence suggests she gambled heavily, betting as much as 500,000 baht in one turn. Police are waiting for her financial statements to see if she had any direct transactions on gambling websites. If confirmed, she will be charged under Thailand's anti-gambling laws, he said. While Ms Golf is known to have romantic relationships with several senior monks, no clear financial links between the monks and gambling platforms have been found so far. However, the investigation is ongoing, he said. In a related development, Senator Parinya Wongcherdkwan warned about a crisis of faith in Monday's Senate meeting. He said that Thailand "needs 100 more women like Ms Golf" to expose corrupt monks and cleanse the religion. Suchart Tanchareon, the minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and a member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand, rejected the idea of encouraging scandals to fix the system. He stressed that misconduct stems from individuals, not Buddhism itself. He acknowledged the National Office of Buddhism has been passive and urged it to take a proactive approach, such as working with local communities to detect early signs of clerical abuse.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Hua Hin mango plantation ‘encroaching on state land'
Authorities say they have found evidence that a large commercial mango plantation in Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province encroaches on nearly 4,000 rai of state land. They said the plantation, known as Rai Hub Phueng, covers parts of Kaeng Krachan National Park and adjacent state-owned property. In addition to mango trees, the site features a number of buildings and other infrastructure. Representatives of Thaisomboon Farm Co, the listed owner of Rai Hub Phueng, were summoned by the Department of National Parks to clarify the legality of their landholdings. Charges have since been filed against the farm's director and 15 others holding land rights on the disputed plots for violation of multiple laws. The case is set to be transferred to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for further action. It qualifies for special-case status as it involves more than 100 rai of land. An investigation was carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday at the site in Nong Phlap sub-district, about 25km inland from the beach town of Hua Hin, said Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. It involved multiple government agencies and was prompted by suspicions of large-scale land encroachment in the area. The team found that a total of 3,952 rai had been unlawfully occupied. Of the total, 1,392 rai were within Kaeng Krachan National Park, including land either undocumented or held under Nor Sor 3 Kor — a land-use document that does not equate to full ownership. The remaining 2,728 rai was identified as Ratchaphatsadu (royal property). Mongkol Chaiphakdee, the head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, said the evidence clearly indicates systematic illegal occupation, and that both criminal and administrative action are being pursued. Several local officials are suspected of involvement, he said, particularly in approving activities such as excavation, landfilling, house registration and installation of telecommunications infrastructure. The issuance of new land use documents within forested areas is also under scrutiny.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Bangkok Post
DSI probes 'mass kickbacks'
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is intensifying its probe into a suspected money laundering operation involving kickbacks and fees illegally collected from Cambodian migrant workers seeking to renew their work permits. Authorities believe the scheme may be linked to senior officials in the neighbouring country and could be worth more than 450 million baht. The case reportedly involves payments of 2,500 baht per worker, allegedly demanded by private agencies facilitating online permit renewals, DSI spokesperson Pol Lt Col Woranan Srilam said yesterday. Workers were told their applications would not be processed unless the fee was paid, despite no such requirement under official Labour Ministry regulations, he said, adding the investigation began after numerous complaints from employers and migrant workers. On July 3, DSI officers searched four locations in Bangkok, including a recruitment agency in Khlong Sam Wa district. Officials seized documents, bank records, and digital evidence believed to show the movement of funds through mule accounts held by Thai and foreign nationals. According to DSI estimates, more than 180,000 of all 280,000 Cambodian workers in the country have renewed their work permits. If each was charged the 2,500-baht fee, the total amount collected could exceed 450 million baht, said Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, director-general of the DSI, who led the July 3 raids. If all 280,000 were subjected to the fee, the figure could approach 700 million baht. Some of the funds were allegedly transferred to high-ranking Cambodian officials, Pol Maj Yutthana said. Preliminary findings indicate that two to three Cambodian officials may be involved, as investigators have traced about 100 million baht in transfers from Thai accounts to those linked to these officials, he added. However, the DSI is still collecting full transaction records from various banks, and the total amount is expected to be even higher, he noted. Investigators have also found some of the money was later returned to Thai individuals or companies, suggesting an attempt to conceal the financial trail, he said, adding the DSI was analysing bank statements and transaction records to confirm these links. Authorities are also exploring whether the scheme fits the legal definition of a criminal organisation under Thai law. If so, participants could face charges related to organised crime and money laundering, said Pol Maj Yutthana.
Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Seven traffic officers charged for assault
Seven traffic police officers have been formally charged by public prosecutors and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in connection with an assault on a former police officer's son at an alcohol checkpoint last December. The incident stemmed from a misunderstanding, as the officers allegedly mistook the victim for a driver attempting to evade a sobriety test. The charges against the officers include offences under the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, dereliction of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, violation of Section 172 of the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption, and other charges. The charges were filed on June 18, and the officers were summoned to acknowledge them yesterday. Angsuket Visuthvattanasak, director of the DSI's Justice Facilitation Division, said the seven suspects were not detained as they complied with summonses and showed no intent to flee. They have been granted 15 days to clarify and refute the allegations. The DSI is expected to conclude its investigation and submit the case to the public prosecutor for corruption cases by next month, after which it will be transferred to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. The officers charged are Pol Capt Taweepong Audthum, Pol Sgt Weerapong Manee, Pol Sgt Paponthee Lertanan, Pol Sgt Keerati Prasopchok, Pol Sgt Watcharawee Thaweeburut, Pol Sgt Jakkarin Kraikruan, and Pol Cpl Natthapong Dutsadee. The incident occurred on Dec 4 last year when the victim, Thananop Koedsri -- son of former police officer Pol Lt Col Thanachai Koedsri -- was allegedly beaten by the officers on Prasert Manukit Road. The officers later admitted they had mistaken Mr Thananop's vehicle for another that had fled the checkpoint. All were suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
Bangkok Post
09-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Thailand's biggest call-scam gang sentenced to prison
Seventy criminal accomplices rounded up in Thailand's biggest scam-gang bust have been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced on Wednesday that the Thung Song Provincial Court had passed sentence on the 70 defendants on May 22. The huge, transnational scam was operated from a four-storey building in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The case centred on the mass arrest of Thai and Chinese members of the call-centre gang - the largest such criminal network detected operating in the country to date, according to the DSI. The police operation began in November 2023 after investigators uncovered evidence of the gang's illegal transnational activities. One of the targeted premises was a four-storey, five-unit building with 22 separate rooms in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. On March 28, 2024, officers from the DSI, Cybercrime Police Division, Immigration Bureau and the Department of Employment raided the building and other minor spots in Chawang district. They arrested 71 people, 52 Chinese and 19 Thais. During the raid, police encountered Thai security guards on the ground floor of the building, the DSI said. Police impounded 223 computers, 1,001 mobile phones, 14 iPads, 298 SIM cards and 86 bank accounts, along with illegally imported items found on the premises. Investigators also uncovered internet chat boxes used to scam victims in Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Thai languages. The passports of the Chinese suspects showed multiple trips to Cambodia. Some had overstayed in Thailand. The case was handed over to the Cybercrime Investigation Division 5. Seventy of suspects faced prosecution for fraud - 52 Chinese, 16 Thais and two juristic entities. The court sentenced the gang leaders each to 24 years in prison, and others to lesser terms. The 70 defendants were also ordered to repay money they scammed from two Japanese victims and had yet to return to them - one to receive 10,670,000 yen, about 2.4 million baht, and the other 450,000 yen, about 10,000 baht.
