A Department of Special Investigation official has been subject to a criminal investigation following an allegation that he took bribes from a suspect involved in a pyramid scheme, a senior DSI official said yesterday.
"The tape reveals the official [in question] telling the suspect that the case 'has been spared through negotiattions with some senior figures 'up above'," Piyawat said.
The Office of Anti-money Laundering Commission will take over the case on Monday. Now the tape is now being transcribed, he added.
The DSI is now working with the public prosecutors to discuss what to do with that official's non-prosecution decision to make it not invalid while more evidence is being gathered to complete the investigation when it will be re-submitted to the prosecutors.
There have been reports about political interference and lobbying attempt being involved to throw the Poodang Kitozan products off court. Piyawat said there was another irregularity with the case - the product had originally been registered as a fertiliser, but later as a direct-sale business.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva later said he had been aware of press reports suggestining that a Cabinet member was involved in the bribery element in the Poodang Kitozan case in exchange for the suspect escaping the justice. "But i have no details about it," he said.
"Evidence is needed [to prove the wrongdoing]. No ministers can do wrong," he added.