THE NATION; Prawat turns himself in

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Politics 

      Prawat turns himself in to
      police

      ROYAL Forestry Department deputy chief
      Prawat Thanadkha Tuesday surrendered to
      police to face charges that he accepted a
      Bt5 million bribe. 

      Prawat, who was recently transferred to an
      inactive post, insisted he was innocent and
      threatened to file a counter suit against the
      investigators. 

      After three hours of questioning, Prawat
      was released on bail using his position as
      surety. 

      Police said they had sufficient evidence to
      take action against him and that the
      investigation would be completed within a
      few days. 

      The bribery case linked to the Salween
      logging scandal broke up last month when
      Prawat tried to donate Bt5 million, he said
      was a bribe, to the Thai-help-Thai
      campaign. 

      But Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai refused
      to accept it and instead ordered an
      investigation. 

      Police have said that the initial investigation
      found that Prawat received the money from
      Vinai Panichayanuban, an owner of a
      sawmill in Tak. Both Prawat and Vinai have
      denied the charges. 

      The Agriculture Ministry has set up a
      committee to consider disciplinary action
      against Prawat after another committee
      found that there was evidence that Prawat
      had committed wrongdoings. 

      The Nation