The lawyer of a former golf caddie, one of four suspects in the alleged share fraud involving late tycoon Chuwong Sae Tang, has petitioned the Office of the Attorney-General amid concern prosecutors might come under pressure in the case.
The request, submitted to the OAG yesterday, was made after the chief of the Southern Bangkok Civil Litigation Department decided not to proceed with the case. That prompted Chuwong's family to ask the department and the OAG for fair play because they believe alleged irregularities in the share transfer are related to the death of 52-year-old construction mogul in a suspicious car accident in June last year. The family says it hopes prosecutors consider the case carefully.
But the golf caddy's lawyer Seksan Senachu said yesterday he was afraid the petitions will cause an "uncomfortable" atmosphere at the OAG. His client, Kanthana Siwathanapol, is facing fraud and forgery charges in the share transfer worth more than 260 million baht which took place before the accident, in which Chuwong was found dead in a car crash in Prawet district on June 26.
Other suspects are former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tagpakorn, the car driver and Srithana Promma, the mother of Uracha Wachirakulton, a former broker at AEC Securities Plc, who took care of Chuwong's stock account. Pol Lt Col Banyin, who sustained minor injuries in the incident, is charged with the premeditated murder of Chuwong.
In the share transfer case, prosecutors at the Southern Bangkok Civil Litigation Department first decided not to proceed with the case, but their decision was opposed by the deputy department chief. Eventually the department chief resolved not to forward the case to the court, deputy OAG spokesman Prayut Phetkhun said yesterday.
The process has not ended yet, OAG spokesman Somnuek Siangkong said. The OAG will assign a deputy attorney-general to consider the case, he said. If he agrees with the department chief, the case must be reconsidered by the Royal Thai Police. If the national police chief opposes the decision, the attorney-general will have the final say, Lt Somnuek said.