Panel grills ‘Boss’ case investigators, ex-senator asks Parliament to probe NLA
The head of a police panel set up to probe the case against Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya today asked police involved to reveal any flaws or problems in the investigation. Pol Lt-General Sattawat Hiranburana also said that the death of a key witness in the case would not affect his work.
Meanwhile, former senator Rosana Tositrakul has urged Parliament to reveal details from a previous probe of the case conducted by the National Legislative Committee.
Sattawat’s police panel was set up after the final charge against Vorayuth over the 2012 killing of a motorcycle policeman was dropped last month, sparking public outrage over a perceived culture of impunity for the rich and well-connected. Vorayuth is a grandson of billionaire Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya.
Sattawat said the panel was scrutinising the team who investigated the case, as well as prosecutors who were behind the decision to drop the last charge of reckless driving causing death.
Meanwhile, the death of Jaruchart Madthong, a witness whose fresh testimony was key to dropping the case against Vorayuth, would not affect the probe, which was focused on the original investigation detail, not new evidence, Sattawat said.
Jaruchart died yesterday after a motorbike crash in Chiang Mai that police ruled was an accident.
Meanwhile, former senator Rosana Tositrakul has asked Parliament president Chuan Leekpai to allow disclosure of information from a previous probe of the case the committee related to National Legislative Assembly.
That probe is under the spotlight after reports emerged that it pushed the Attorney General’s Office to launch the investigation that eventually led to the charge being dropped. Two members of the NLA probe offered different opinions at the time, with Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn saying they didn’t acknowledge the case but Thani Onlahiad accepting the investigation of the speeding charge – which became key to the case being dropped.
Rosana said the confusion should be cleared up by disclosing the evidence since the case had important repercussions for both the judiciary and Parliament. Public distrust over a lack of transparency and widespread concern of corruption in the case were affecting Thailand’s image, she added.