Colonel Sittiporn Charoenput from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday offered to undergo a lie detector to clear public doubt about an allegation that some jewellery items had gone missing while in his agency's custody.
Sittiporn, the head of the DSI Evidence Storage Division, is the only man who has held the key to the safety box containing 40 glittering items.
These sparkling pieces were found inside the Pathumwanaram Temple at the end of the redshirt rally in May and then handed over the DSI as evidence.
"We received these valuables from the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) on May 22 and we have since kept them in the safety box," Sittiporn said.
The owner of the Phet Siam Jewellery Centre said these valuables had been stolen from his shop. On July 2, he visited the DSI and later complained that a ring and two pairs of earrings went missing.
The actual value of the items remained unclear.
"I would like to ask the owner to come and check the items together, one by one," Sittiporn said.
According to him, the safety box is located inside a strong room on the sixth floor of the DSI headquarters. Only two DSI officials including Sittiporn can pass an eyescan to enter the strong room, which is also protected by iron gates.
Fuangwich Anirutthewa, secretary to Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, said he planned to witness the opening of the safety box at the DSI in presence of the complainant, and representatives from DSI, the police and the military.
He expected the truth to come up very soon. Fuangwich suspected that someone might have wanted to discredit the military via this scandal.
"We will hold a press conference next Wednesday to clear up any lingering doubt," Fuangwich said.
Pirapan has assigned him to lead the probe into this scandal.
According to Fuangwich, the lists prepared by the military as well as DSI were consistent both showing just 40 items of sparkling pieces found.
An informed source at the Justice Ministry, meanwhile, disclosed that some people were allowed to take a look at the precious items in custody even though they had no duty to handle those things.
It added that these people also expressed an interest in some of the sparkling pieces.
"Now that the missing pieces become big news, they are trying to negotiate with the CRES, the Justice Ministry as well as the jewelleryshop owner," this source said.
It added that the jewelleryshop owner was now offered Bt300,000 compensation to end