DSI pressured over loan scandal

Pressure is mounting for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate two former Krungthai Bank (KTB) executives, who include a cabinet minister, in connection with the KTB loan scandal.

In a renewed complaint, lawyer Wanchai Boonnak is calling for a criminal investigation against Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Chainarong Intarameesap.

He said Mr Uttama and Mr Chainarong were executives at the bank when it unlawfully granted loans amounting to nearly 10 billion baht to subsidiaries of the Krisdamahanakorn (KMN) real estate company.

While three other former executives are serving prison terms over the loan irregularities handed down by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, the pair has never been investigated, Mr Wanchai said.

Suchai Chaowisit, former chairman of the KTB board; and former board members Wiroj Nualkae and Matchima Kunchorn Na Ayutthaya, were each sentenced to 18 years in prison for colluding to commit graft in connection with the loans.

They were among 24 people found guilty in 2015 of wrongfully approving the loans to affiliates of developer KMN between 20032004. The loans were granted even though the firm was listed with the bank as a nonperforming debtor.

“The DSI must investigate the pair, whether or not they had a vested interest. The people who authorised the loan should be prosecuted,” he said.

Mr Wanchai’s petition for the probe came a day after anti-graft activist Veera Somkwamkid urged the DSI to seek fair prosecution of “all parties involved”.

Mr Veera said over 200 individuals and juristic entities were linked to the scandal.

DSI deputy spokesman Woranant Srilam said yesterday the petition would be forwarded to DSI officials handling the KTB loan case.

The DSI is looking into the money laundering aspect of the KTB loan and one of the potential suspects is Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who received cheques tied to the loan.