BANGKOK, Nov 18 (TNA) – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked the Criminal Court to revoke the temporary release of Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, the former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park accused of the murder of a Karen activist.
The DSI submitted video clips of Chaiwat’s interview with media to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Case on Monday, saying his interviews were deemed as tampering with evidence and could cause misunderstanding among the public about the DSI investigation.
In its petition to the court, the DSI also asked the court to impose bail conditions for Chaiwat and three other suspects, banning them from giving interviews to journalists or disseminate information about the case on the internet.
Four suspects should be banned from entering Kaeng Krachan National Park, where key evidences were discovered and witnesses live and they should wear electronic monitoring devices to prevent them from escaping.
The court accepted the DSI’s request for consideration on Nov 25 when four suspects will report themselves to the court.
The suspects were released on bail after they had turn themselves in last Tuesday. They were charged with murdering Karen rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, who went missing in April 2014.
In another development, Jatuporn Buruspat, permanent secretary at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had approved the transfer of Chaiwat to be the director of the Natural Resources and Environment Office in the southernborder province of Pattani.
The transfer responded to the request by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to move Chaiwat to a position within the authority of the permanent secretary office, Jatuporn said.
Chaiwat is currently chief of Ubon Ratchathani-based Protected Area Regional Office 9.
He added that the transfer was not punishment and was not related to the DSI’s request for revocation of his bail but Chaiwat was suitable for working to protect forest in the deep South. The job needs a person, who is strong and well-experienced in cracking down illegal logging. (TNA)
