DSI to investigate eight new cases

DSI to investigate eight new cases

The Special Cases Committee agreed today to accept eight cases for the Department of Special Investigation to investigate, DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said on Wednesday.

They include the legality of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's extension of a contract for the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) and East Water's donation for flood relief through the Democrat Party.

The purchase of ineffective GTX 2000 and Alpha 6 bomb detectors will also be investigated.

The BTSC case concerns the granting of a 190-billion-baht contract extension - without calling for open bids - for BTSC to operate electric trains on extended routes of the Green Line until 2042.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party filed a complaint with the DSI, asking the agency to look into the contract's legality.

The East Water case involves the group's donations to the Democrat-run flood relief centre in 2010 when the party was in power.

The Democrats are accused of violating laws governing donations accepted by political parties when it was revealed a bank account was set up under a party member's name.

The other cases accepted for the DSI to investigate are: Alleged encroachment and stealing of sand from a national park in Phangnga province; encroachment of a national park in Phetchabun province; corruption in the red onion-pledging scheme in Si Sa Ket province; irregularities in the purchases of GTX 2000 and Alpha 6 bomb detectors; threats to life in connection with a murder case involving the Baikhan family; and the operation of online gambling in many northeastern provinces.

Mr Tarit said the Special Cases Committee paid special attention to the East Water flood relief donation and the extension of the BTSC elevated electric trains contract, both involving the Democrat Party.

The committee instructed the DSI to work closely with the prosecutors. The DSI investigators and prosecutors are required to make a joint decision before charging anyone. Nobody has been charged in connection with the cases, he said.

The decision for the DSI to take up these cases is only a step to an investigation. If wrongdoing is not found, the investigation would be called off.

The DSI and the prosecutors would meet to lay down a guideline for the investigation of these cases, Mr Tarit said.

Today's meeting of the Special Cases Committee was chaired by Deputy Prime MInister Chalerm Yubamrung.

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