Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha said: "When request¬d, DSI can provide a protection team for witnesses."

He was speaking after the DSI board convened a meeting and passed a resolution to investigate six cases under the Special Investigation Act.

The first case was the death of nine-year-old Chakraphan Srisaard during a police sting operation in Bangkok and the disappearance of his mother, Pornwipa Kerdrungruang, right after that.

On February 23, 2003, Pornwipa and Chakraphan were in a car when the boy's father got out to deliver illicit drugs to an undercover police officer. After seeing police at the scene, Pornwipa tried to flee in the car.

Police allegedly riddled the car with bullets, one of which killed her son Chakraphan instantly. Pornwipa fled the scene and has never been seen since.

The second case related to the deaths of Nikom Ounkaew and his wife Kanya. The couple from Nakhon Ratchasima won Bt6 million in a government lottery but did not tell anybody about their win. Neighbours were reportedly suspicious about their sudden wealth and suspected they dealt in drugs. On March 28, 2003, both were shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The third case relates to the death of Samarn Thongdee, who was gunned down on April 9, 2003 in Tak. Samarn's had no record of being involved in drugs or crime, but on his death some illicit drugs were suspiciously found in his pocket.

The fourth case was the fatal shooting of a woman in Tak on May 18, 2003. Ampaipan Rookongprasert also had a clean record, but illicit drugs were found in the sole of her high-heeled shoes at the scene of her death.

Justice Minister Charnchai said Thursday he would consult the Narcotics Control Board about returning the victims' assets to their relatives if it was proven that they had not come from illicit deals.

"Another case that DSI is going to investigate is the shooting of Fakruddin Boto," the minister said.

Caretaker senator Fakruddin was shot and seriously hurt in a driveby shooting in Narathiwat's Rangae district on August 6 this year.

"There has been no progress in this case after an investigation suggested that suspects were military officers," Charnchai said.

He said the sixth case that DSI would take on related to a com¬plaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Power P Public Company Ltd for alleged stock manipulation.

Charnchai said DSI would look at accepting more cases related to people killed during the notorious "war on drugs", if victims came forward.