Petitioner Srisuwan Janya, left, shakes hands with Yoswaris Chuklom, also known as Jeng Dokjik, right, as they arrive at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Prosecutors have momentarily pressed pause on their decision regarding whether to indict prolific petitioner Srisuwan Janya, former red-shirt activist Yoswaris Chuklom, and three others, over allegations of extortion targeting the head of the Rice Department. The final call has been deferred until Aug 28.
Senior prosecutor Rachata Phanomwan, the lead on the extortion case involving Mr. Srisuwan and his four alleged accomplices, alerted the Office of the Attorney-General that the case remains under intensive scrutiny and is not yet concluded. OAG spokesman Prayut Phetcharakhun announced this update on Thursday, stating, “The prosecution team needs more time to evaluate all the details, hence the decision has been rescheduled to Aug 28.”
Thursday witnessed Mr. Srisuwan, Mr. Yosawis, alias Jeng Dokjik, and the three alleged accomplices making their way to the OAG to get the prosecutors’ determination. Mr. Srisuwan was in the dark regarding the precise charges he would face. While media speculated six charges, police investigators conveyed there were four.
Mr. Srisuwan relayed that the deferral came because the investigating team had only just submitted the probe report to the prosecutors. Complying with the requirement, Mr. Srisuwan and his wife, also a suspect in the case, reported to the OAG as planned on Thursday.
He disclosed that they were poised to submit a letter appealing for justice from the OAG, confident in the evidence they had to prove their innocence. Over recent months, he had not consulted with the other suspects, particularly Mr. Yoswaris, whom he met only once before. Remarkably, Thursday marked their first meeting in the past six months.
Mr. Srisuwan emphasized his dedication to assisting people in distress during this period.
Rewinding to Jan 26, Mr. Srisuwan was apprehended during a sting operation at his residence in Pathum Thani, when undercover police dropped off 500,000 baht. Following him, Mr. Yoswaris and the other suspects faced arrest.
The catalyst for these events was a complaint lodged by Natthakit Khongthip, the director-general of the Rice Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police. Mr. Natthakit alleged that Mr. Srisuwan and his co-accused – including Mr. Yoswaris and Mr. Srisuwan’s secretary Phimnattha Chiraphutthiphak – attempted to extort 3 million baht from him, threatening fabricated corruption allegations.
All implicated parties staunchly denied the charges. Ms. Phimnattha is notable for her past as a parliamentary candidate for the Ruam Thai Sang Chart (United Thai Nation) Party, a participant in the governing coalition. Mr. Yoswaris, once the leader of the Ruam Chai Rak Chat (United Love for the Nation) movement, served on a civil service working group appointed by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the UTN leader.
Mr. Yoswaris voiced that he was informed he would face six charges. Firm in his innocence, he requested his attorney to file a petition seeking justice from the prosecutors, confident in the evidence prepared to defend his case.
None of the suspects are presently under custody; the prosecutors saw no immediate flight risk. They have all been instructed to return for reporting on Aug 28.
Earlier, on July 16, the Crime Suppression Division forwarded the investigation report against the five suspects to the prosecutors. During the police interrogation, all suspects were temporarily freed. The intriguing saga continues as the clock ticks down to the next critical date: Aug 28.
It’s shocking how long these legal processes take. If they’re guilty, shouldn’t we know by now?
Legal scrutiny is important to ensure justice is served correctly. Rushing can lead to wrongful convictions.
True, but dragging it out forever isn’t fair to anyone involved either.
Actually, these high-profile cases can be incredibly complex. Gathering and verifying evidence is a painstaking task.
It’s all political theater. I’m sure both sides are trying to leverage this case for their own gains.
I think you’re right. Both Srisuwan and Yoswaris have deep political connections.
Exactly, and it’s the ordinary people who suffer while these power plays go on.
It’s naive to dismiss it as just political theater. These are serious allegations of extortion.
Why does it take so long to check if someone extorted money? Just follow the money trail.
It’s not that simple. Financial crimes involve layers of complexities, needing thorough investigation.
I’m interested to see what evidence they have. This could shake up the political landscape quite a bit.
Given the high stakes, I bet they’ll drag this out as long as they can to avoid immediate fallout.
I can’t believe Mr. Srisuwan was so clueless about the charges. This seems so unprofessional!
True, but sometimes it’s a tactic to gain public sympathy. The ‘innocent victim’ card.
This is just another example of corruption being so deeply rooted in our institutions. It’s disgusting!
Corruption is indeed a serious issue, but let’s not forget they are innocent until proven guilty.
Of course, but the very fact that such allegations are so common is worrying.
Interesting how both Srisuwan and Yoswaris seem so confident in their innocence. Makes you wonder who’s holding the real evidence.
That’s true, but then again, overconfidence might just be a front.
Definitely a possibility. Only time will tell.
Wow, this story reminds me of some older political scandals. History really does repeat itself.
The Aug 28 delay is just another tactic to buy time. If there was clear evidence, we would have seen indictments by now.
The safety of Mr. Srisuwan and his wife is also a concern. High-profile cases like this attract a lot of unwanted attention.
I think Natthakit Khongthip did the right thing by reporting the alleged extortion. Corruption needs to be rooted out.
Sure, but we also need to ensure that the accused get a fair trial. False accusations can ruin lives.
Absolutely, a fair trial is a must. But the initial step of reporting corruption is crucial.
Whether they’re guilty or not, this case highlights the need for greater transparency in our political system.
What do you think are the chances of both Srisuwan and Yoswaris being innocent? It seems fishy to me.
The chances are slim. When there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. But I’d rather let the courts decide.
Agreed. It’s just hard to believe that such serious allegations could be baseless.