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Published on February 25, 2008

The case involves allegations of bribe-taking by a former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor in exchange for awarding an American couple the right to run the Bangkok International Film Festival for several years.

Juthamas Siriwan, who headed the authority between 2001 and 2006, has denied any wrongdoing. She threatened to sue anyone who suggested otherwise. She quit her position with the Puea Pandin Party when the allegations surfaced late last year.

The American couple has been indicted in the United States.

"The case will be transferred to the commission before the end of this month," DSI spokesman Colonel Piyawat Kingket said.

He explained the decision was made because the defendant was a high-level official and therefore fell under the commission's jurisdiction.

Piyawat said the DSI would hand over the evidence it had collected to date.

Piyawat said the DSI would also forward evidence about alleged pyramid-fund schemes to public prosecutors today.

On Friday it would forward a report on alleged trespass into Chiang Mai forest reserve.

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation