Fourteen officials attached to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have been accused of dereliction of duty in connection with the attempt to seek a retrial of former teacher Jomsap Saenmuangkhot's fatal hit-and-run case, according to a police fact-finding panel.
Thanasak Ritthidetphaibul, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 4 overseeing the Northeast, said yesterday the probe results indicated the 14 DSI officials allegedly failed to perform their duty properly in detecting a scapegoat scheme the former teacher was allegedly involved in, which enabled her to proceed to request a retrial over her hit-and-run case in 2005.
The officials were accused of acting recklessly for failing to inform the DSI and the Justice Ministry of irregularities during the gathering of evidence to submit to court for consideration of the retrial. Their acts were considered dereliction of duty which caused damage to the state, Pol Maj Gen Thanasak said.
The probe results came after the officials were summoned for questioning by the panel set up by the provincial police which earlier found a hired scapegoat was used to try and help secure a retrial for Ms Jomsap.
According to Pol Maj Gen Thanasak, the 14 accused officials are divided into two groups: the first seven handling the case from the beginning; and the remainder later commissioned to supervise the case by Pol Col Dusadee Arayawuth, deputy permanent secretary for justice.
Pol Maj Gen Thanasak said the officials must face a disciplinary investigation, adding the probe panel will mainly focus on the second group as clear assignments were given to each member.
The seven officials in the first group are: Nithit Phurikup, special case expert; and three special case inquiry officials at senior professional levels: Pol Lt Col Aphimook Sakthana; Pol Lt Col Phothiwat Teemaudom; and Pol Lt Col Punthanat Ketthet.
The others are Siwarat Preukpaiboon, senior special case officer at the professional level; Pongsa Ratree; and Airawan Sewathakruthara; both of them DSI legal officials.
As for the second group, three are special case inquiry officials at the senior professional level: Chartchai Thosanthi, who supervised the probe; Pol Maj Sataphong Chuamahawan; and Baramee Jantharaphisai.
Also, the three others are special case officials at senior professional level: Pol Lt col Watcharat Chalermsooksan; Lt Col Napholphong Kamolart; and Thitinai Phatikabut while another is Surasak Khamwieng, special case officer at the professional level.
Of the 14 officials, Pol Maj Gen Thanasak said only two -- Mr Baramee and Pol Lt Col Watcharat -- in the second group failed to give testimony to the panel, saying they were occupied with official business abroad.
Pol Maj Gen Thanasak said the investigation results will be forwarded to the Justice Ministry and the National Anti-Corruption Commission which determine disciplinary action.
"The probe results relevant to officials under the ministry and the DSI will be submitted to Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong and justice permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at this week," the police major-general said.
Besides the DSI officials, 11 civilians including Ms Jomsap, her husband Niran, and Sap Wapee, the suspected hired scapegoat, have also been charged for their role in an alleged conspiracy to clear her name in Ms Jomsap's hit-and-run case.
