Royal appeal in Vatana case
A group of people living near the Kapong protected forest in Phang Nga yesterday petitioned His Majesty the King for a royal command to order a reinvestigation into a public prosecutor's decision to drop a forest encroachment charge against former minister Vatana Asavahame.
The group, including forest rangers based in Kapong district, submitted the letter of request to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary in the Grand Palace.
The group said it feared intimidation and further encroachment after justice was not served.
Senior prosecutor Seksan Pangsombun dropped the charge against Vatana, citing insufficient evidence.
A team of public prosecutors had earlier recommended prosecution against the former minister and 10 other people belonging to two palm-oil producing companies owned by Vatana who admitted to have been involved in the encroachment operations.
|
