Latest news with #CentralInvestigationBureau
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thai Central Investigation Bureau passes on 14 complaints against PM Paetongtarn over Hun Sen clip to National Anti-Corruption Commission
BANGKOK: An investigative team from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has compiled evidence and interviewed witnesses in connection with 14 complaints filed against suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over alleged sedition, and has submitted its report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). A CIB source said the investigation, led by CIB Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Suwat Saennoom, examined complaints related to a leaked audio recording of a phone conversation between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Key complaint alleges sedition under multiple articles The primary complaint was filed by former senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua, and legal academic Komsan Phothong. They accused Paetongtarn of sedition under Sections 119, 120, 122, 128, and 129 of the Criminal Code, citing her remarks in the call, in which she allegedly criticised the Third Army Area commander. Additional complaints include malfeasance charges According to the source, 13 additional complaints were also lodged against Paetongtarn, involving similar sedition allegations as well as malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code. The source added that Suwat's panel had completed witness interviews, collected sufficient evidence, and consolidated all 14 complaints into a single investigative report. The report has now been handed over to the NACC, which will decide whether to open its own investigation or refer the case back to the CIB for further proceedings in coordination with the Office of the Attorney-General. - The Nation/ANN
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Police dig deeper into Nakhon Sawan temple funds scandal
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is intensifying its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple funds at Wat Nakhon Sawan and a long-delayed Buddhist park project involving the former abbot. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, CIB deputy commissioner, on Tuesday provided updates on the high-profile case involving the former abbott, Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, now known by the lay name 'Thid Sarit' (former monk Sarit). He was also the ecclesiastical chief of the central plains province of Nakhon Sawan until his abrupt retirement from the monkhood on July 19. Police investigators continued their search for evidence of misdoing on Tuesday, after earlier uncovering multiple irregularities, including the resignation of the acting director of the Nakhon Sawan campus of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) and the involvement of other people whose roles were under scrutiny, the CIB deputy chief said. He affirmed that legal action would be taken against any people found to be involved in corruption. 'Police are duty-bound to protect the nation, religion and monarchy. We must act to safeguard the integrity of Buddhist institutions,' he said. He declined to confirm whether the resignation of the acting director the MCU's Nakhon Sawan campus was linked to the temple fund irregularities. He did acknowledge that many people were under investigation. The in-depth probe follows the emergence of details of the scandals involving the former abbot. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, 67, came under the media spotlight after photos showing him embracing a woman while wearing a wig went viral online. The former senior monk is also accused of secretive affairs with three women. It was reported that the acting director of the MCU's Nakhon Sawan campus, who recently resigned from the campus, had an alleged special relationship with the former abbot, The former abbot is under investigation over suspected financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been underway for 15-20 years and is still not complete despite receiving hundreds of millions of baht in donations. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) were all now working on the case, trace the flow of funds. All parties involved would be held to account, he reiterated. According to the CIB deputy chief, the former abbot had borrowed large sums from monks at temples in Bangkok. The transactions were now under investigation. Investigators were also examining temple bank accounts, which currently showed only a few million baht remaining. This raised questions about the disappearance of substantial donations. All contractors involved in the Buddhist Park project would be summoned for questioning, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said. Once the evidence was compiled, legal proceedings would follow, including the issuance of summonses and arrest warrants, he added. There were reports that Wat Nakhon Sawan may have received donations totaling several hundred million baht for the Buddhist Park project. One major donor, a now deceased businessman, reportedly contributed 50 million baht to the temple.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Crime drops after 'Pattaya Model' launch
Provincial Police Region 2 has attributed a sharp decline in crime and improved response to complaints in Pattaya to the "Pattaya Model" -- a safety initiative launched in April that was designed to rebuild the city's image as a safe destination for tourists. Pol Lt Gen Yingyos Thepchamnong, chief of Provincial Police Region 2, said the initiative involves increased surveillance across three high-risk areas, with two checkpoints set up along Pattaya Beach, two on Walking Street, and another at Bali Hai Pier. A key feature is a crime mapping system that is driven by data collected from local police and community sources, which the police can use to identify high-risk zones. The system is backed by smart surveillance cameras equipped with a real-time, facial recognition system which is linked to a shared database of wanted individuals, persons under surveillance, and other high-risk individuals. It was developed in collaboration with Pattaya City and the Central Investigation Bureau. The system also enables the police to send real-time alerts to officers on duty to ensure rapid response, Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said. Since the initiative was launched, physical assault cases dropped from 111 in April to 50 in June, while property-related crimes declined from 81 to 48 over the same period. "These improvements are the results of a targeted and proactive policing," said Pol Lt Gen Yingyos. "Our officers can now identify risk areas and act quickly, leading to visible and measurable results. We've also accelerated the arrest of individuals with outstanding warrants." The initiative relies on the use of technology to pre-empt threats, enhance operations with artificial intelligence, and engage local stakeholders, making it easier for tourists to seek help, and ensuring swift action when incidents occur, he said. The results of the initiative were presented to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong during his visit to Pattaya last week. The minister praised the initiative as a big step toward enhancing tourist safety and confidence. Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said police are committed to using the latest technological innovation to improve law enforcement, saying the ultimate goal is to ensure public safety and make Pattaya a safe destination for both residents and visitors.
Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Cops to speed up probe on Nakhon Sawan temple abbot
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has promised to expedite its probe into allegations of misconduct against the former abbot of a temple in Nakhon Sawan, after photos of the senior monk embracing a woman while wearing a wig made the rounds online. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, who left the monkhood just before midnight on Saturday, is also under investigation in connection with financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project, which has been delayed for about a decade. Reports said the 67-year-old left monkhood at 11.49pm on Saturday, in a ceremony chaired by the deputy abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan in Muang district. CIB investigators discovered a trove of chats and photographs which indicated the former abbot is in a romantic relationship with a 57-year-old woman seen in the pictures. It was said the pair has been in a relationship for 15 years. In one of the photos, the former monk could be seen embracing the woman while wearing a wig and layman clothes. The CIB says the former monk, who was Nakhon Sawan's ecclesiastical chief, regularly solicited donations from devotees in Nakhon Sawan and its surrounding province. Investigators also found his alleged companion has vast assets, including cars, valuable jewellery and land plots, despite having no clear sources of income. The temple had earlier denied any irregularities in the construction project and insisting it has financial records to dismiss such claims. The delay, it said in a statement, was due to dishonest contractors abandoning the work they had been paid to do. Despite the remarks, the CIB said the investigators will continue reviewing the temple's financial statements to see if there are any irregularities. The former Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun wrote in his resignation letter on Friday that he chose to resign due to health problems and prevent any further damage to the nation's Buddhist order. It is unclear if his woman companion will also face increased scrutiny. In light of recent scandals involving monks, the CIB recently opened a special centre to handle complaints about monks' misconduct. One such case is the sex scandal involving Wilawan Emsawat, a 35-year-old woman also known as "Sika Golf", and senior monks from several well-known temples. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party spokesman Danuporn Punnakanta on Sunday said the party supports the push for a new law to address concerns over temples' finances and monks. He said a bill is being prepared to bring temples' financial matters under a transparent, auditable, accounting system, adding several other laws are being reviewed to support the reform effort. However, he added that as the matter is highly sensitive, the public will be invited to take part in the process.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Ecclesiastical chief of Nakhon Sawan quits monkhood amid sex scandal
NAKHON SAWAN: The abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, who was also the ecclesiastical chief in this lower northern province, left the monkhood just before midnight on Saturday night. It was reported that Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun, 67, disrobed at Wat Nakhon Sawan in Muang district at 11.49pm on Saturday. A deputy abbot of the Buddhist temple chaired a ceremony for his departure from the monkhood. The development followed his resignation as the abbot and the provincial ecclesiastical chief on Friday. Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakhun wrote in his resignation letter dated Friday that he had health problems and was the subject of reports that had a seriously negative impact on Buddhist monks. The departure after 47 years as a monk came after Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, told reporters that he was investigating a scandal concerning a senior monk who was outside Bangkok. On July 15, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat arrested Wilawan "Sika Golf" Emsawat, 35, who allegedly had sexual relations with many senior monks from well-known Buddhist temples. Police found numerous video clips of sexual affairs with the monks as well as evidence of extortion and blackmail against some of them. Police said that the woman had received 385 million baht in her bank accounts over the past three years. After the Sika Golf case, the Central Investigation Bureau opened a special centre to handle complaints about monks' misconduct. His Majesty the King has issued a royal command to revoke the royal appointments and ecclesiastical titles previously conferred upon a total of 81 monks, in light of recent reports of monastic misconduct.
