LOTTO TRIO ARE CHARGED WITH BRIBERY

>> Kanchanaburi teacher Preecha Kraikruan and two lottery vendors face an additional charge of attempting to bribe state authorities in the 30-million-baht lottery dispute.

The Counter Corruption Division (CCD) yesterday issued summonses for the schoolteacher and two female suspects, Patcharida Promta and Ratanaporn Supathip.

Late last month, Mr Preecha and Mrs Ratanaporn were arrested in the province on charges of filing false information with police, claiming that winning tickets from the Nov 1 draw belonged to Mr Preecha, and accusing retired officer Pol Lt Jaroon Wimool, 62, of theft.

Both denied all charges against them and the court later granted them bail set at 100,000 baht each, in part due to Mr Preecha’s government position.

Besides the trio, a CCD source said Suthi Puangpikul, chief of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Police, also appeared at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Friday to acknowledge a charge of dereliction of duty against him over the lottery case.

The officer denies the allegation and will see CCD investigators in the next 15 days to present evidence in his defence.

The charge was pressed against Pol Maj Gen Suthi after the CCD probe indicated he was found to have violated Section 157 of the Criminal Code and been derelict in his duty in handling the investigation into the winning lottery ticket dispute.

The probe concluded the officer made a “mistake” during the interrogation process when investigating the lottery dispute because of “inexperience”.

Commenting on the case, CIB chief Thitiraj Nhongharnpitak yesterday said he had instructed CCD commander Pol Maj Gen Kamol Rienracha to expedite the probe against Pol Maj Gen Suthi.

He also insisted the investigation would be conducted fairly and in accordance with the evidence even though the suspect was a police officer.

The probe would be wrapped up and forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for consideration soon.

The CIB chief also denied he had said Pol Maj Gen Suthi did not commit any wrongdoing.

Pol Lt Gen Thitiraj explained the officer handled the probe at the beginning in favour of Mr Preecha as he believed the teacher was the wronged party.

However, Pol Maj Gen Suthi later made an amendment to testimonies in an investigation report to assist Mr Preecha which was where he crossed the line, he said.