PM orders National Parks chief to inactive post

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the order assigning Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya to work at the PM's Office is in line with Section 11 of the state administration law and takes immediate effect.

Mr Wissanu said the order aims to ensure that Mr Rutchada cannot exercise his authority and wield any influence while the investigation into his alleged wrongdoing is underway.

"On the issue of whether he will be discharged or expelled, a disciplinary investigation must be conducted or there must be clear wrongdoing first. Now he must be removed first.

"This already is tantamount to a 50% punishment. Whether he will be moved back later or expelled is another step," said Mr Wissanu, the cabinet's legal expert.

Mr Rutchada was arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly demanding or agreeing to accept bribes or other benefits for his personal gain, abuse of authority and malfeasance in office.

Found in his office was 5 million baht in cash in several envelopes. He was released on bail set at 400,000 baht on Tuesday night after being interrogated at the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD). Police did not consider him a flight risk.

ACD commander Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew said the director-general refused to comment while maintaining the allegations stemmed from a personal conflict with Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former head of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi.

Mr Chaiwat earlier filed a complaint with the ACD police against Mr Rutchada, accusing him of abusing his authority in transferring officials to positions far away from their home provinces if they refused to pay him 500,000 baht.

He also accused him of demanding money from the heads of agencies under the department.

ACD commander Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat insisted police have evidence to support the allegations and said Mr Rutchada's subordinates, whose names appeared on the envelopes, will be summonsed for questioning.

A committee set up separately by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment yesterday moved Mr Rutchada to the office of the ministry's permanent secretary for the duration of its probe.

Kusol Chotirat, head of the panel, said Mr Rutchada had not been called to give his side of the story.