Amnat Charoen: Reserve Senators have unveiled that Amnat Charoen Province is at the heart of a collusion scheme involving the selection of Senators, with local politicians orchestrating the process before forwarding it to those in power. Government officials who fail to cooperate with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) could face imprisonment.
According to Thai News Agency, a group of reserve senators, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Khamrob Panyakaew, disclosed that the governor of Amnat Charoen Province had covertly communicated with the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior. This communication revealed that individuals posing as DSI officers coerced two former senator candidates into admitting their involvement in collusion activities with Senators in the province. The issue has been ongoing, with the province being a hub for organized senator collusion operations. Influential local politicians, along with civil servants and police officers, are implicated in these manipulations, recruiting people to apply as senators and managing district-level groups. Financial transactions are also reportedly involved.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Khamrob detailed that the orchestrators in Amnat Charoen Province not only oversee local operations but also play a pivotal role in managing nationwide senator collusion. Representatives from various provinces are required to submit lists of candidates, which are then vetted by these influential figures. These lists, originating from Amnat Charoen Province, are crucial for determining the selection of Senators, highlighting the province’s central role in the compilation process.
The investigation, currently being conducted by the DSI, is progressing swiftly. It was uncovered that a deputy governor of Amnat Charoen Province had previously addressed a memorandum to the Ministry of Interior, expressing concerns about potential DSI investigations. These developments have heightened the urgency of the situation. Pol. Lt. Gen. Khamrob also warned civil servants and police officers under Section 22 (17) of the Criminal Procedure Code about the legal obligations to cooperate with DSI officers. Non-compliance could result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, under the National Anti-Corruption Act and Section 200 of the Criminal Code. The statements made by Pol. Lt. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, align with these legal frameworks.