Ex-DSI chief Tarit sacked for 'unusual wealth'

Ex-DSI chief Tarit sacked for 'unusual wealth'

The Prime Minister's Office has dismissed Tarit Pengdith, former director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), from government service for being unusually rich, effective from April 3, PM's secretary-general Gen Wilas Aroonsri said.

The dismissal of Mr Tarit was as recommended by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Gen Wilas said.

Gen Wilas' letter of explanation was made available to the media on Monday.

Tarit Pengdith

The letter said the NACC had investigated and subequently passed a resolution declaring that Mr Tarit became unusually weathly while holding the post of director-general of the DSI.

The NACC found that Mr Tarit's wealth had increased and his liabilities reduced while in that position and concluded he was unexplainably richer by 346.6 million baht .

"According to Section 80 (4) of the National Anti-Corruption Act of BE 2542 (1999), after the NACC has completed its investigation and passed a resolution, the NACC chairman is to recommend a penalty, be it a removal or a dismissal, to the immediate commander of the accused found to have committed malfeasance," the letter said.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), on May 24, 2014, issued an order transfering Mr Tarit to the Prime Minister's Office.  A month later, on June 27, 2014 he was appointed an adviser attached to the Prime Minister's Office, which is under the Secretariat of the Prime Minister.

Therefore, as the prime minister's secretary-general and Mr Tarit's immediate superviser, he was required to issue the dismissal order, Gen Wilas said in the letter.

Gen Wilas said in the letter that the Secretariat of the Prime Minister received the NACC's recommendation last year.  In order to clear all legalities, his office had sought advice from the NACC, the Office of the Civil Service Commission and the Council of State. These offices confirmed it was within the power of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to issue the order.

Moreover, since the cabinet had earlier issued a resolution that an official found to have committed serious malfeasance through corruption should be dismissed from government service, the order dismissing Mr Tarit was issued, effective from April 3, the letter concluded.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said in response to reporters' questions that if Mr Tarit was dismissed because of a breach of discipline, he could petition the Office of the Civil Service Commission.  But if the dismissal was as recommended by the NACC, the dismissal order was final and Mr Tarit could not petition against it.

On Sunday, NACC member Preecha Lertkamolmart revealed the graft agency was preparing to freeze almost 100 million baht in assets as part of a fresh probe into Mr Tarit's his allegedly ill-gotten wealth.

Mr Preecha said the NACC recently appointed him to chair a panel to make the investigation. His panel had credible information that Mr Tarit had transferred large qantities of assets to his close aides.

The assets were being examined and would be frozen if those having them in their possession could not explain their origins.

The NACC had earlier frozen 90 million baht of assets in Mr Tarit's possession.

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