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THE NATION: Prawat, Vinai face
- Subject: THE NATION: Prawat, Vinai face
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 03:03:00
Politics
Prawat, Vinai face
summons by police today
Police will today issue a summons to
forestry official Prawat Thanadka and Tak
sawmiller Vinai Panichyanuban to press
charges of corruption in connection with an
alleged bribe of Bt5 million which may be
linked to the Salween illegal-logging
scandal.
Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt
Gen Seri Temiyavej said the summons had
been approved by an Interior Ministry
inspector general in accordance with
criminal proceedings against the
high-ranking official.
Seri said police expected to wrap up the
investigation against Prawat and Vinai
within one week, pointing out that they had
strong evidence for the prosecution.
''Despite their pleas of innocence, police
have traced finger prints on the money to
Vinai and the bank teller who admitted to
paying out the cash when the suspect made
the withdrawal,'' he said.
Prawat, a former deputy director general of
the Royal Forestry Department and now
seconded to an inactive post in the
Agriculture Ministry, will become the first
official to face criminal charges in
connection with the plunder of Salween.
In addition to the criminal investigation, he
is also facing a disciplinary probe on graft.
According to the national committee's
findings on Salween presented to the prime
minister on Tuesday, about 42 officials,
entailing a wide network of forestry, interior,
border patrol police, customs and military
authorities, were found to be implicated in
illegal logging.
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said the
government would take action against the
network of officials who had condoned the
illegal logging.
Police investigators accused Vinai of
paying the bribe and Prawat of demanding
it following the seizure of 13,000 Salween
teak logs at Vinai's sawmill in Tak.
Commenting before receiving the
summons, Prawat said he would cooperate
with the investigators.
Agriculture Permanent Secretary
Thaweesak Sesawet said he would hand
Prawat to investigators although the
suspect could request bail based on his
own cognizance.
The Salween forestry scandal broke out last
month when Prawat tried to donate the Bt5
million, which he said was a bribe, to the
Thai-help-Thai campaign. But the prime
minister refused to take it and instead
ordered an investigation.
The Nation