DSI urged to renew phayung logs probe

DSI urged to renew phayung logs probe

The secretary to a special royal guard has petitioned the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe claims the 2nd Army chief has been negligent in suppressing phayung wood trafficking.  

Supatra Yingcharoen, secretary to special royal guard Thanpuying Apiradee Yincharoen, yesterday met the DSI director Pol Maj Woranun Srilum for a progress report on a probe into whether state officials are connected to illegal activities.

Last year, Ms Supatra submitted letters to several agencies including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the DSI, calling for probes.

She will submit a letter to Army commander chief Udomdej Sitabutr today asking him to probe the 2nd Army Chief Lt Gen Tawat Sukplang amid earlier claims by the DSI that he failed to take action against suspects involved in illegal logging.

She said the DSI accepted the case involving illegally logged phayung wood last year but no progress had been made.

Illegal logging is still rife in many areas even after the government launched a crackdown last year.

Ms Supatra claimed former DSI chief Tarit Pengdith ordered his subordinates to suspend the investigation into the illegal logging probe.

However, Pol Lt Col Supat Thamthanarak, deputy director of the Bureau of Technology and Information Inspection, a small department under the DSI, denied Mr Tarit had ordered the phayung logging probe to be suspended.

He said the DSI accepted four cases involving illegal logging as special cases. The authorities have worked on the cases and an investigation into two of the cases had been expanded, he added.

The DSI had focused on trying to find a network of suspects, rather than arresting particular suspects, he said.

Pol Lt Col Supat insisted that it will take months to examine the evidence and track down the money trail involving phayung smuggling.

The DSI is also looking at claims that income from the illicit activity was linked to illegal drugs gangs, he said.

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