Seventeen Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) officials yesterday gave statements to police in connection with the bribery case against former department chief Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya.
Mr Rutchada was arrested at his office in Chatuchak district on Dec 27 on suspicion of demanding or taking bribes from subordinates and malfeasance.
An envelope containing 98,000 baht was found during his arrest, while envelopes containing another 4.9 million baht with the names of subordinates on them were found in Mr Rutchada's safe.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), said yesterday the officials who gave statements were those who paid a bribe of 98,000 baht and those from whom bribes were demanded.
He said the officials claimed they paid the bribes out of fear of mistreatment and harassment.
According to Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat, six other officials have been summonsed to meet police on Jan 11, and eight others will be summonsed to give statements on Jan 12. He said police have so far found no connection between Mr Rutchada and other people in the investigation and that the DNP chief has refused to give statements to police.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said that Mr Rutchada did not interfere or intimidate witnesses, as claimed by some media reports. Mr Rutchada was released on bail set at 400,000 baht as police did not consider him a flight risk.
He added that the ACD would submit its investigation report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) later this month.
The arrest followed a complaint by Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former head of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi, who accused the department chief of abusing his authority by transferring officials who refused to pay him 500,000 baht.