THE NATION: Prawat, Vinai face

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Politics 

      Prawat, Vinai face
      summons by police today

      Police will today issue a summons to
      forestry official Prawat Thanadka and Tak
      sawmiller Vinai Panichyanuban to press
      charges of corruption in connection with an
      alleged bribe of Bt5 million which may be
      linked to the Salween illegal-logging
      scandal. 

      Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt
      Gen Seri Temiyavej said the summons had
      been approved by an Interior Ministry
      inspector general in accordance with
      criminal proceedings against the
      high-ranking official. 

      Seri said police expected to wrap up the
      investigation against Prawat and Vinai
      within one week, pointing out that they had
      strong evidence for the prosecution. 

      ''Despite their pleas of innocence, police
      have traced finger prints on the money to
      Vinai and the bank teller who admitted to
      paying out the cash when the suspect made
      the withdrawal,'' he said. 

      Prawat, a former deputy director general of
      the Royal Forestry Department and now
      seconded to an inactive post in the
      Agriculture Ministry, will become the first
      official to face criminal charges in
      connection with the plunder of Salween. 

      In addition to the criminal investigation, he
      is also facing a disciplinary probe on graft. 

      According to the national committee's
      findings on Salween presented to the prime
      minister on Tuesday, about 42 officials,
      entailing a wide network of forestry, interior,
      border patrol police, customs and military
      authorities, were found to be implicated in
      illegal logging. 

      Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said the
      government would take action against the
      network of officials who had condoned the
      illegal logging. 

      Police investigators accused Vinai of
      paying the bribe and Prawat of demanding
      it following the seizure of 13,000 Salween
      teak logs at Vinai's sawmill in Tak. 

      Commenting before receiving the
      summons, Prawat said he would cooperate
      with the investigators. 

      Agriculture Permanent Secretary
      Thaweesak Sesawet said he would hand
      Prawat to investigators although the
      suspect could request bail based on his
      own cognizance. 

      The Salween forestry scandal broke out last
      month when Prawat tried to donate the Bt5
      million, which he said was a bribe, to the
      Thai-help-Thai campaign. But the prime
      minister refused to take it and instead
      ordered an investigation. 

      The Nation