Police Dug Deeper Into Decision to

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Subject: Police Dug Deeper Into Decision to Grant Li bail

The Nation (July 2nd, 1997)
Police dig deeper into decision to grant Li bail 



Justice Ministry ordered to investigate officials 

The Nation 

POLICE investigating court officials implicated in arranging bail for a 
drug suspect wanted in connection with a heroin haul in the United 
States sought an investigation report of former criminal court deputy 
chief justice Somchai Udomwong. 

Pol Lt Gen Bunsri Hunsawat, assistant police chief, said police have 
asked the Judicial Commission for its investigation report of Somchai, 
who it decided on Monday to dismiss without pension. 

Bunsri chairs the police committee investigating the allegation that 
criminal court officials accepted bribes from Li Yun-chung, alias 
Pongsak Rojanasakul, in return for helping to arrange the bail order. 

The Judicial Commission found Somchai had abused his judicial discretion 
for granting Li bail on Feb 7 during an extradition hearing for his 
suspected involvement in a 1991 shipment of 486 kilogrammes of heroin 
into the US. 

Li was alleged to have paid Bt13 million through go-betweens for the 
bail arrangement. 

The Judicial Commission concluded that Somchai had an ulterior motive 
behind his ruling to grant bail, but that he may not have been the 
recipient of the bribe. 

Deputy Police Chief Salang Bunnag said investigators need substantial 
evidence to file criminal charges against any officials involved in the 
bribery allegation. 

''In a disciplinary investigation, you can be fired if you only tarnish 
the image and reputation of your organisation," Salang said. 

"But in a criminal investigation, there must be proof," he added. 

He said Li, who was extradited to the US last month and arraigned in 
Brooklyn (New York) federal court on drug trafficking charges, has not 
given any statements which could be used as evidence. 

''The US police are assisting us with the matter," he said. 

Criminal Court Chief Justice Pradit Ek-manee said that he will request 
the Justice Ministry to establish a fact-finding commission to 
investigate other criminal court officials who are also alleged to be 
involved in the bail arrangement. 

''For transparency, the ministry should set up the panel by itself," he 
said. 

The 11-member panel which investigated Somchai included Thon Buri 
Criminal Court Chief Justice Pramot Bunnag, and Thon Buri Criminal Court 
Deputy Chief Justices Thonglor Chomngam and Somsak Netmai.


"THERE WILL BE NO REAL DEMOCRACY IF WE CAN'T GURANTEE THE RIGHTS OF THE 
MINORITY ETHNIC PEOPLE.  ONLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR SUFFERING AND HELPING 
THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS WILL ASSIST PREVENTING FROM THE 
DISINTEGRATION AND THE SESESSION."  "WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR 
STRENGTH, WE CAN'T TOPPLE THE SLORC AND BURMA WILL NEVER BE IN PEACE."


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