THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) will make a decision today on whether to file charges against Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former premier Thaksin, and two others in a money-laundering case connected with malfeasance at the state-owned Krungthai Bank.

The evidence was insufficient to take legal action against Panthongtae, Kanchana Honghern and Manop Tipwaree, especially after the Anti-Money Laundering Organisation (AMLO) failed to pursue charges, according to sources.

The controversial case is connected to earlier malfeasance convictions of former senior executives at Krungthai Bank. In August 2015, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders sentenced Suchai Chaovisit, former chairman of the bank, and former president Viroj Nualkhair to 18-year jail terms for approving Bt8-billion loans to subsidiaries of Krisada Mahanakorn Group in 2003 for refinancing and land acquisition.

The court found that the funds were used for other purposes, causing financial damage to the state-owned bank. Krisada Mahanakorn was classified at the time as a non-performing debtor.

Besides Suchai and Viroj, seven other bank and company executives who gained from the deals were convicted in the Krungthai case and given jail terms ranging from 12 to 18 years.

At one point following his imprisonment, Viroj was hospitalised inside the Bangkok special prison for a heart problem.

Authorities have also launched investigations into alleged money laundering by Panthongtae, Kanchana and Manop, as there was evidence money from Krungthai Bank had been transferred into their accounts, according to reports. However, the AMLO had said it would press charges against them but did not do so. The money-laundering case has a statute of limitations of 15 years, which expires in 2018. At today’s meeting, the DSI will also seek the opinion of counsellors and decide if more evidence is needed to file charges.

In the malfeasance lawsuit, Thaksin was also accused of committing wrongdoing but the Supreme Court trial was suspended because he was still in self-imposed exile.

Meanwhile, Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Wibullak Ruamrak said the ministry was working closely with deputy premier Wissanu Krea-ngam to pursue civil liability cases against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and others.

The government has also invoked the civil-liability law to seek massive compensation from Boonsong as well as several other senior Commerce Ministry officials regarding fake government-to-government (G-to-G) deals.

Under the law, the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Foreign Trade will forward civil-liability cases to the Department of Legal Execution, which is empowered to seize assets of the accused for auction.

However, Boonsong has filed a petition with the Administrative Court challenging the government order, which it declared illegal and sought an injunction against.

Besides the civil-liability lawsuits, former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, Boonsong and others are also facing Supreme Court trials for alleged negligence of official duties while implementing the previous government’s rice-pledging scheme and for their alleged roles in the G-to-G rice contracts that supported the scheme.

HER Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, who was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador on the Rule of Law for Southeast Asia, has pledged to move forward with the principle of rule of law in the region in line with the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) told the press yesterday that the Princess had been chosen as goodwill ambassador due to her enduring passion for the judicial system and also because she has been a professional practitioner in the field for a long time.

In her opening remarks delivered via video message, the Princess said the appointment offered her the opportunity to champion the UN’s position on the rule of law and fairness in the criminal justice system. She added that it would help to achieve the bold vision of the United Nation’s 2030 agenda.

“I am looking forward to working with the UNODC Southeast Asia team to reduce crime and violence, protect vulnerable groups and challenge corruption, while contributing to the global effort to strengthen the rule of law,” she said. “Working together, we can achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda within a generation. I am proud to be a part of this effort.”

As goodwill ambassador, the Princess will raise awareness of the UNODC Regional Programme for Southeast Asia and its connection with the rule of law, peace, stability and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

She will first participate in two high-level global and regional events in March, before attending other events over the course of the year.

UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov said Her Royal Highness would bring tremendous commitment, dedication and energy in delivering the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

“Her invaluable experience enables her to speak with authority on the need for effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. I have no doubt she will play a significant role in the region on UNODC’s behalf,” Fedotov said.

Jeremy Douglas, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said he was very pleased that the Princess was joining the UNODC to advance the rule of law and justice reform in region.

“It is an incredible opportunity for us all because she is already a practitioner in this field and has valuable experience in the justice system, as she has long been working to improve the condition of women prisoners and vulnerable groups,” Douglas said.

He said the Princess had also helped to organise the 2013 Bangkok Dialogue on the Rule of Law to promote justice, security and the rule of law as necessary for sustainable development and to build political momentum for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

In addition, she has also served as the Ambassador for Thailand to the UN in Vienna and participated in the UN General Assembly’s Economic and Social Council’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Thailand Institute of Justice executive director Kittipong Kittayarak said that with this new task the Princess could further develop her mission in the justice system.

“She has long been working in this scope and has a doctorate in justice. Her task as Goodwill Ambassador on the Rule of Law will present us with an opportunity to further improve our justice system at both regional and global levels,” Kittipong said.

Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) third division chief Pol Maj-General Wutthipong Phetkamnerd said yesterday that following a tip-off, Jenny Carmen del Nozio Acuna Pacheko, 55, had her luggage searched at the airport when she disembarked from a flight from Peru. Seven bottles of lotion laced with cocaine were found.

According to police, she confessed to smuggling the drugs and said she was to deliver them to a man she identified as Michael Shabanov, 31. Police arrested him later at a Bang Na hotel where he was waiting for her, Wutthipong said.

Mixing cocaine with skin lotion was a new smuggling tactic and the drugs could be extracted later, Wutthipong added.

Three other drug busts were reported at the same press conference.

Four Thai men were arrested on Monday and 227,400 “yaba” pills were seized in Nonthaburi’s Muang district following a tip-off. Khomkrit Chanleuchai, 42, and Phusit Chaiburi-opas, 27, were arrested at a house where they allegedly kept illicit drugs smuggled from the North. Police later arrested Alongkorn Khongthana, 36, and Chulapong Saelee, 43, who showed up to allegedly collect the pills for distribution.

The second drug bust occurred on Sunday when four southern residents were arrested allegedly in possession of 988,000 yaba pills, a pistol and seven bullets at a house in Phatthalung’s Kong Ra district, police said. Following a tip-off, police found 724,000 pills in a car and 264,000 pills in the house.

The third bust took place last Thursday when Suriyan Kaewsrichan, 26, was arrested along with 300,000 Yaba pills at a checkpoint in Chumphon’s Tha Sae district, police said.

Jomsap has consistently maintained her innocence.

The inquiry into Pol Lt-Colonel Tossapol Thammawong and Pol Colonel Prathum Phrommee should be transparent and the results submitted to the Supreme Court via the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Court within 30 days, the group said.

Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, vice chairman of the foundation’s centre that takes complaints about cases allegedly involving scapegoats, submitted the request to Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda via deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok.

Mongkolkit said the plaintiff’s side had presented witnesses and forensic evidence at last week’s hearing at the provincial court as part of Jomsap’s retrial application, but the forensic officers who handled the crash evidence did not testify as prosecution witnesses.

The group wanted the officers to explain their findings in order to ensure justice, he added.

Jomsap was sentenced to three years and two months in jail for allegedly running over and killing an elderly bicyclist. She was granted a royal pardon in April 2015 after serving 18 months behind bars.

Phra Dhammchayo, the honorary abbot of Dhammakaya Temple, is facing arrest warrants for money laundering.

NCYBAT chairman Somporn Thepsittha, who also heads the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) committee on religions, arts, culture and tourism, said yesterday that the NCYBAT had submitted a petition to the Supreme Patriarch asking him to consider defrocking Phra Dhammachayo.

The current Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan (Ambhorn Ambharo), is the successor to Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Sangharaja, who passed away in 2013.

The NCYBAT believes Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Sangharaja had recommended in a letter that Phra Dhammachayo be defrocked.

In addition to the criminal charges, Phra Dhammachayo has been accused of amassing wealth, which Buddhist monks are not supposed to do.

Authorities have been unable apprehend Phra Dhammachayo to face legal proceedings as his supporters have thwarted operations to arrest him. The monk’s representatives claimed that his health was so poor he could not leave the temple and when officials showed up at the temple to arrest him, they were blocked by his supporters.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang yesterday refused to comment on when authorities would raid Dhammakaya Temple to arrest Phra Dhammachayo. He only confirmed that aerial pictures showed parts of Dhammakaya Temple that might have encroached on public land and blocked a public waterway.

Meanwhile, a source at the Justice Ministry said Deputy National Police Commissioner General Dejnarong Sutticharnbancha had been assigned to lead the operation to arrest Phra Dhammachayo.

“Soldiers from Army Area 1 will be deployed to prevent the masses from entering Dhammakaya Temple, while police will try to bring followers of the temple not involved in alleged legal offences out of the temple compound.”

The DSI and forensic scientists would then search the temple and gather evidence, the source added.

“To stage this operation, it may be necessary to declare the Dhammakaya Temple a special control area,” the source said.

 THE prime minister warned yesterday that people planning to march to Bangkok on Friday to protest against the Krabi coal-fired power plant would be arrested.

After yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said he wanted to warn members of the group opposed to the plant to not stage a protest in the capital because it would be against the law and protesters would be arrested.

“I ask them not to go to Bangkok [to protest]. Such movements are forbidden and they will be arrested if they go ahead. If there is anything to be concerned about, please discuss it in your area,” he said.

He added that the coal-fired power plant in Krabi was needed, which was why he had ordered the Energy Ministry to hold a meeting on Friday to determine the fate of the project.

“I promise that by Friday we will know whether this project will be allowed or not. So I ask them [the protesters] to not protest at this time because it will cause a legal problem,” he said.

“I also want to ask them if they have sought permission to stage a protest, because according to the National Council for Peace and Order’s order, protests are prohibited at this time. And I want to ask, what will we do if we don’t build a new power plant and there is a power shortage?”

He added that the project was part of the Power Development Plan and that his government had already improved its plan to increase the proportion of renewable energy. However, he said, a proportion of fossil-fuel energy generation should also be considered.

Meanwhile, leading activist Prasitchai Nu-nuan said in a Facebook post that the plan to protest in Bangkok would go ahead.

“The lives of people living in Krabi is in your hands now, prime minister. You can use the law or guns as you wish. We have been fooled twice and will not allow this to happen again. Please don’t cite democracy, because you are using military power to shut people’s mouths and force them to do what the government wants,” the post read.

The graphic designer left behind his wife Kanyawat, his mother Chuenjit Rodpeungpha, and the many friends who cherished him.

At The Nation, Eakphob was remembered for his kindness, good humour, optimism and dedication to his work, traits reflected in his work.

Eakphob had worked for The Nation for 11 years. He was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last August. He had battled against the disease in great spirits, always warmly welcoming visitors even from his hospital bed.

He had received treatment first at Sikarin Hospital, and then at Thammasat Hospital, where he received chemotherapy. It was during his stay at Thammasat Hospital that he sadly learnt of the passing of King Rama IX, and he coped with the grief through his love of art. He drew a picture of the late monarch that was published in The Nation’s sister publication, the Thai-language Kom Chad Luek newspaper.

After his medical treatment did not yield satisfactory results, Eakphob returned home to be with his family and friends, never losing his smile.

His funeral rites are being held at Sri Iam Temple. His cremation ceremony will take place on Saturday.