Two audio clips were revealed yesterday to show there were political interference and lobbying attempt to throw the Best 59 pyramid scheme via Poodang Kitozan products off court.
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Special Criminal Case Office chief, Pol Colonel Piyawat Kingket, told media that he would submit the clips along with other evidences to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to factfind.
The first clip, of about five minutes in length, showed a DSI deputy chief ordered Piyawat to release the Poodaeng suspects on bail, citing the DSI chief Tharit Pengdit's policy approved by Justice Minister. The second clip between Piyawat and a Pol Lt Colranking DSI investigator showed the latter inquired about the Poodaeng case and offered bribe to Piyawat, to which Piyawat declined saying the case should go as evidences led. The investigator then said this problem could still be solved if DSI opened a loophole or solution for public prosecutor and then the defendant side would find evidences to fight the court battle. The investigator said he talked to Piyawat over this because of senior officials' instruction.
Piyawat declined to give the investigator's name, pending a report to DSI chief and an establishment of disciplinary committee to probe the investigator. He said his previous report about lobbying attempt to Tharit didn't get any attention.
Meanwhile, Tharit insisted Piyawat never reported about any lobbying attempt and, if there was such thing and Piyawat recorded the conversations, Piyawat should submit them to him instead of showing them to reporters because this case should be proceed legally. Affirming the agency had steps of decision making, he said the Poodaeng case was probed by Piyawat's office before it was submitted to DSI deputy chief Narat Sawetanan. He said that he believed Piyawat had good intention and worked hard, but he must respect the rules.
Different opinions could emerge in the justice system, say case investigators might want to sue, but public prosecutors decide otherwise, Tharit said, this was normal and those who disagreed wasn't always corrupt or wrong. As one of the clips claimed DSI chief wanted the suspects bailed with Bt2 million, he said it was a general working principle that DSI allowed bail release for the suspects who surrendered themselves, thus this wasn't an interference to investigators' work.
Meanwhile, an informed source reported that a Best 59 executive sold a Songkhla's Hat Yai land worth Bt80 million at the mere price of Bt50 million to fund the lobbying expenses.