DSI investigators visit former senate candidates

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confirmed reports that its officers visited the homes of former senatorial candidates in Amnat Charoen province as part of their investigation into alleged criminal association and collusion in the Senate election last year.

Pol Lt Col Woranan Srilum, DSI spokesman, said the investigators approached the three individuals as witnesses and prior agreements had been made for them to provide information.

Speaking about the encounters, the spokesman stated that investigators followed all legal procedures, including properly identifying themselves, and denied that the former candidates were coerced into answering questions.

“The officers had received consent from the former candidates beforehand, but on the day of the visit, the witnesses declined to provide information. Therefore, no questioning took place,” Woranan said.

The team were not in uniform during the visit, as it was considered a routine field operation. Uniforms, the spokesman added, are only required when conducting searches or arrests.

The visits came to public attention after the three former candidates filed a complaint with the Muang district chief, alleging that they were visited at their homes by DSI officials and were pressured to answer questions.

The district chief subsequently reported the complaint to Amnat Charoen governor Narong Thepsena, who forwarded it to the Interior Ministry’s permanent secretary.

The content of the complaint was later leaked to the media. On May 4th, at around 9am, three men visited 57-year-old Praiwan Kaewpuang, identifying themselves as DSI officers. They were not in uniform and allegedly failed to present official DSI identification.

They reportedly disconnected her security camera and pressured her to confess to committing offenses related to the Senate election, allegedly telling her that other candidates had already admitted guilt.

Praiwan refused to cooperate after the men declined to identify which DSI unit they represented. The group then left and visited Boonlom Wannapat, 65, another former senatorial candidate.

They were also unsuccessful in convincing Boonlom to talk, as she doubted their authenticity.

The investigators then proceeded to the home of a third former candidate, Pissamai Khemtong, but she was not there at the time.