Members of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative are urging the Justice Ministry to order the Department of Special Investigation to accelerate its probe into a 12-billion-baht embezzlement scandal at the country’s largest cooperative.
More than 100 affected members on Wednesday went to the ministry to seek justice from Pol Col Dusadee Apayawut, a deputy permanent secretary for justice, and question why another deputy justice permanent secretary, Thawatchai Thaikhiew, bailed the cooperative's former chairman and his associates out of jail.
Department of Special Investigation officials search for evidence of alleged embezzlement by Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative’s chairman and his associates at the organisation’s office on Srinakarin Road on July 12, 2013. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Mr Thawatchai justified his move to use his ministerial position to have Supachai Srisupa-aksorn and his associates freed by saying he'd known the former cooperative chairman for 30 years.
He insisted he has not interfered in the DSI's investigation of the case and, in fact, knew many of those who'd lost money in the scandal.
Thammanoon Attachot, who led the group, complained to Pol Col Dusadee that they felt the investigation has progressed at a snail's pace since it began in 2013, even though the Anti-Money Laundering Office had ordered the seizure of some assets belonging to Mr Supachai and his associates, Thai media reported Wednesday.
However, criminal action has yet to be taken against the suspects and Mr Thammanoon blamed Mr Tawatchai for interfering in the case.
He added that many members were uncertain whether they would receive justice or their money back, as the cooperative's reserve fund of 3 billion baht was insufficient to cover all the losses.
Mr Thammanoon said his group wanted the DSI, which is under the Justice Ministry, to accelerate its investigation and bring those responsible to justice. Several suspects, he noted, were influential businessmen with close connection to senior government figures, he said.
'Earlier, damaged parties had petitioned the DSI to take action against Mr Supachai and his associates on the embezzlement charges as the statute of limitations on this case is 10 years," he explained.
"But a DSI official told us that a compromise could be reached by asking the accused to return the money to the damaged parties. Thus, the accused will be charged in a fraud case which carries the statute of limitations of only three years," Mr Thammanoon said.
The damaged parties have given statements to DSI investigators three times, but there has been little progress in the case, he claimed. He fears the statute of limitations will expire if no action is taken soon.
Pol Col Dusadee said he would ask officials handling the case to update them on the progress of their work. He promised to ensure justice for all sides.