Police, military officers on list of thousands of ‘dark influences’ whose activities will be investi

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has been directed to proceed with investigations.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged the public not to perceive the policy, initiated in October, as motivated by a political agenda.

Dussadee said the five categories of offences were encroachment on forest areas and natural resources; drug dealing by prison inmates; tax evasion and smuggling; black-market high-interest money lending; and the exploitation of tourists. 

Dussadee said there were thousands of names on the list including about 3,000 suspects involved in loan-shark activities, mostly in Pathum Thani and Uthai Thani provinces. He said the list would be given to First Army Region commanders upon request.

After the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Prayut said he did not want people to perceive the crackdown on influential figures as politically motivated. 

“Military, police, ‘jao por’ [slang for godfather] underworld figures could all be within the category, so if there is evidence of wrongdoing they will face legal action,” he said, adding that he had also received reports of illicit goods being sold in Bangkok’s Bo Be Market.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the policy would be implemented irrespective of the colour of a suspect’s uniform, inferring that military, police and other officials were on the list of suspects. 

News reports have mentioned that retired Army major-general Trairong Intaratat, better known as “Seh Ice”, |and an aide of former Army captain Thammanat Prompao were on the list. 

In response to those reports, Prawit said the investigation would proceed accordingly and that it was possible suspects on the list were innocent and had been implicated by subordinates. 

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau acting chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn said he had received the names of four influential figures in Bangkok, two of whom were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and the other two in collecting protection fees. 

He said police would investigate, adding that some suspects reportedly had positions with the police but the investigation so far had failed to identify a suspect currently working in Bangkok, so it was possible they were retired or left the civil service. 

Sanit said police would ask suspects to refrain from criminal activity, and if they did not they would face legal action. He also urged people who had been victimised to file complaints with local police. If local police failed to take action, people could file complaints with their superiors, he said. 

In Udon Thani in the Northeast, provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Peerapong Wongsaman said 200 “dark influence” suspects including seven police had been identified prior to his taking office. The majority were linked to drug trafficking, he said, adding that the investigation into the suspects should be 70 per cent complete within two months.

Meanwhile, the authorities yesterday raid six locations in Nakhon Pathom province associated with “influential figures”.

Authorities reported the seizure of 38 firearms, ammunition, Bt2 million in cash, gold bars, several luxury cars, six radio-communication devices, 19 “yaba” pills, an underground lottery and football |betting tickets.