Bangkok: Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, has taken decisive action by directing the Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to establish a committee that includes external parties to probe the claims made by Ms. Krisanong Suwanwong, also known as ‘Jay Patch’. Ms. Patch alleges she paid 10 million baht under the table to a DSI official.

According to Thai News Agency, the Justice Minister emphasized the importance of expediting the investigation to identify the actual mastermind behind the allegations. He expressed concerns regarding the limited detention period, which may not provide the prosecutor ample time to evaluate the case. To mitigate this, he suggested appointing a prosecutor as an advisor to the case.

Pol. Col. Thawee highlighted the necessity for the DSI Director-General to investigate the claims thoroughly, focusing on the events that transpired a decade ago to determine their authenticity. He advocated for the inclusion of an external mediator to bolster
confidence in the investigation’s integrity.

In response to queries about potential difficulties arising from false claims, Pol. Col. Thawee stated that the current DSI officers are expected to base their actions on factual evidence. He stressed the importance of corroborating testimony with witnesses, documentary evidence, material evidence, and expert opinions, assuring that investigators will exercise discretion without adversely affecting the officers involved.

Addressing concerns about specific instructions, Pol. Col. Thawee reiterated his focus on ensuring the prosecutor has adequate time to review the case. He recommended that the case be presented to the prosecutor at least 15 days prior to any deadlines and advocated for the prosecutor’s involvement as a consultant to assess the evidence.

When questioned about identifying the mastermind, he indicated that the investigation would scrutinize financial trails and other evidence, holding the mastermind accountable based on the evidence collected.

Fin
ally, in response to whether such issues have historically involved state officials, Pol. Col. Thawee underscored the need to respect the officials involved, notwithstanding the accusations against them. He insisted that accusations must be substantiated by evidence and committed to expediting and following up on the investigation.