The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has suspended five officers accused of embezzlement and bribery in connection with a raid on the home of the former consul-general of the Republic of Nauru in Sathon district.
DSI spokeswoman Pichaya Tharakornsanti said the suspension was in line with regulations to make sure that the officers will not interfere with the investigation into alleged malfeasance.
They are accused of embezzling and extorting money in exchange for the release of 11 Chinese suspects who were arrested at the house on Dec 22 in a joint operation between the DSI and the Patrol and Special Operation Division (PSD), better known as the 191 police.
The raid came after the DSI received a request from the vice consul-general of Nauru on Dec 9, saying suspicious individuals had been using the property. The search led to the seizure of 2.5 million baht and the arrest of a Chinese maid, but it later emerged that there were conflicting accounts of the amount of money seized.
The search team is under investigation over a missing 5.5 million baht said to have been at the house and another 4 million in bribes allegedly collected in exchange for the release of 11 Chinese nationals found there.
The DSI team consisted of five officials, including a secretary to former DSI chief Traiyarit Temahiwong, who was transferred last Wednesday to the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) pending the outcome of the investigation.
Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol, the acting DSI director-general, has appointed Ms Pichaya as the agency’s new spokeswoman and Pittayaporn Churat as a deputy spokeswoman.
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