Prosecutor, cops under suspicion in rhino horn case
The deputy chief of the Saraburi public prosecution office and two police officers allegedly accompanying luggage that was found to be carrying smuggled rhino horns worth over 100 million baht at Suvarnabhumi airport earlier this month are facing probes to determine whether they were involved with the trafficking.
The 21 rhino horns, worth 173 million baht, were being smuggled from Ethiopia on March 10 by two Thai women who managed to evade arrest, according to authorities. The women fled when they were being escorted to customs by airport officials and saw the bag being scanned.
An investigation found deputy Saraburi chief public prosecutor Worapas Boonsri in charge of rights protection, legal assistance and law enforcement, as well as two police officers were also accompanying the luggage.
Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) spokesman Somnuek Siangkong said Attorney-General Pongniwat Yuthapanboriparn said the trafficking of the high-value rhino horns has garnered public attention and Pol Maj Gen Worapas’ implication in the case has severely tarnished the reputation of the OAG.
Pol Sub Lt Pongniwat ordered the formation of a panel to investigate the issue, which will be chaired by Pranot Pongpaew, inspector-general of the OAG, the spokesman said.
The probe result must be reported to the attorney-general within 30 days, he said.
The panel would start by interviewing the airport staff who found the rhino horns and then it would question Pol Maj Gen Worapas, he said.
After all the facts are gathered, the committee would conclude whether there are substantial grounds to accuse the official before reporting the findings to the attorney-general, he said.
Lt Somnuek said a committee from the public prosecution office on Wednesday decided to transfer Pol Maj Gen Worapas to the Department of Southern Bangkok Civil Litigation, which would take effect on April 3.
Meanwhile, deputy police spokesman Krisana Patanacharoen said the two police officers seen accompanying the luggage have been transferred to the Samut Prakan police operation centre.
Pol Col Krisana did not reveal the identities of the officers or the offices that they belonged to.
The transfers were made to give way for an investigation to determine whether they were connected with the rhino horn trafficking network, he said.
Pol Col Krisana, however, said based on an preliminary investigation, they were not found to have been linked with the network, but a further investigation is needed for more clarity on the matter.