DSI chief transferred over bribery allegations
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Traiyarit Temahiwong was abruptly transferred yesterday over bribery allegations involving Chinese nationals.
The allegations concern a suspected extortion attempt where DSI officials and police were allegedly bribed to release 11 Chinese suspects found hiding in a luxury Bangkok house.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed the transfer order yesterday, and Mr Traiyarit was moved to the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) to serve as acting director.
CIFS director Pol Maj Gen Suriya Singhakamol has taken over as acting director at the DSI.
A source said the DSI chief ’s transfer was linked to allegations that Mr Traiyarit’s right-hand man sought cooperation from a senior officer at the Patrol and Special Operations Division to coordinate with a Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner and obtain court approval to search the home of a former Nauru consul-general on Dec 22 last year.
Police and DSI officials involved in the search allegedly extorted about 9.5 million baht in bribes in exchange for the release of 11 Chinese nationals found hiding on the premises.
On Monday, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, said five DSI officials, nine policemen, a military police officer and a Chineseborn interpreter were involved in the alleged extortion and bribe payment. The next day, the DSI chief insisted the DSI did not order the accused officials to search the former consul-general’s home.
Former politician and massage parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit said the premises had been rented by Chinese nationals running “grey businesses”.
He alleged that these Chinese used false diplomatic licence plates on their van and falsified the former consulgeneral’s signature to rent the house.