DSI official faces probe, court over sex assault claim
A high-ranking official attached to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) who has been accused of raping a 38-yearold businesswoman will be suspended if found guilty of serious misconduct, according to a senior Justice Ministry official.
The Justice Ministry yesterday came out to defend itself after the businesswoman petitioned the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) about the issue on Thursday.
Thawatchai Thaikhiew, deputy permanent secretary for justice, yesterday said the Justice Ministry had set up a panel to consider severe disciplinary action against the C9 official last week.
The names of the accused official and the woman were not disclosed.
Mr Thawatchai said the official has acknowledged the disciplinary probe order against him.
The first meeting of the panel is scheduled for next week and the probe results are expected within a 180-day time frame, he said.
Mr Thawatchai also yesterday denied a rumour that the official would face only a salary cut, saying he could face dismissal with or without a pension.
He would definitely face the latter punitive measure if he was convicted of the wrongdoing in court and was sent to prison, he said.
Mr Thawatchai said the accused official has not been transferred to an inactive post yet as it has not yet been established he abused his authority to commit a crime and that the case has affected his work with the DSI.
He added that the disciplinary action had nothing to do with the criminal suit filed against the official.
The Justice Ministry’s move came after the real estate businesswoman sought help from the DSI in February last year, accusing the DSI official of raping and then trying to blackmail her.
She said the official demanded money and more sex and also threatened to disseminate naked photos of her on social media if she mentioned the incident to anyone.
The DSI later forwarded the case to the Justice Ministry, which oversees disciplinary action against DSI officials.
The ministry then launched an investigation into the woman’s allegations in April last year.
The primary probe found there were grounds to suspect that the official committed wrongdoing.
The woman, however, petitioned the Crime Suppression Division about the issue on Thursday.
Besides disciplinary action, legal action is also being taken against the official after the woman brought the case before the Pattaya Provincial Court in Chon Buri province.