THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Probe into park scandal on hold as no complaints filed

Probe into park scandal on hold as no complaints filed

POLICE have yet to begin investigating the alleged irregularities involving the Royal Thai Army's Rajabhakti Park project because no formal complaints have been filed so far, a senior police spokesman said yesterday.

Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Pol Maj-General Piyapan Pingmuang said Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr had not been summoned for questioning, because initial fact-finding efforts found nothing linking him to the scandal. 
“To summon anyone for questioning, a police complaint must be filed first. So far nobody has come forward to file a complaint,” he said.
Piyapan was responding to questions from reporters about allegations that kickbacks had been sought from foundries commissioned to cast the imposing statues of seven Thai kings for Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. 
On Tuesday, Udomdej, who inaugurated the project while serving as Army chief, confirmed that officials had intervened and the foundries had agreed to donate the money they had set aside for kickbacks.
Meanwhile, the spokesman said the police investigation into a high-profile lese-majeste case had not yet been expanded to cover the Rajabhakti Park project scandal.
Deputy national police chief Pol Lt-General Srivara Ransibhramanakul said yesterday that no complaints had been filed with police over alleged irregularities involving the project. He said he knew nothing about the case and declined to comment about it. 
As for the lese-majeste case, Srivara said it involved 16 offences and four suspects – two of whom died in detention recently. 
Of the three arrested suspects, Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa was allegedly found hanging in his cell, while well-known fortune-teller Suriyan Sujaritpolwong is believed to have succumbed to a blood infection. The third Jirawong Wattanathewasilp is still under detention at the 11th Military Circle. Srivara said the last suspect – Colonel Kachahart Boondee – has reportedly fled to Myanmar, adding that the two deaths should not affect the case. 
Piyapan said yesterday that investigation into the lese-majeste case was nearly complete, though a few more witnesses still had to be questioned. 
 
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