Senators demand probe into ethical conduct of justice minister and DSI chief

A group of senators submitted a motion to the Senate Speaker today, demanding a probe into the ethical conduct of Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Pol Col Yutthana Praedam, over their allegations of criminal association regarding the alleged voting collusion in Senate election last June.

Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja said today that the senators find the allegations unacceptable and defamatory and want the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate them both for malfeasance in office, in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

He insists that the senators have the right to seek justice and to defend themselves against such allegations.

One of the group, Pol Maj-Gen Chatrawat Saengpetch, alleged that an “outsider” was seen at a meeting of the DSI special case panel yesterday, as he questioned whether the panel, the justice minister and the DSI chief were under the influence of the unnamed “outsider”.

The DSI’s special case committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, delayed its decision to accept the Senate voting collusion case for investigation by the DSI. It decided, instead, to invite a member of the Election Commission to explain the case.