A group of eight Thai police officers has been sentenced to jail and hefty fines over allegations of abusing their power and taking kickbacks related to a police housing project.
The officers include Pol Lt Gen Theerayut Kittiwat, Pol Maj Gen Satja Khachahiran, Pol Maj Gen Saman Sudjai, Pol Col Patthamek Suntranuyutkit, Pol Col Jirawut Janpeng, Pol Maj Sitthipaiboon Khumnin, Pol Maj Khomkrib Nudalai, and Pol Sr Sgt Maj Sayan Obchoei.
The National Counter Corruption Commission accused them of using their power as state officials to aid PCC Development and Construction in winning the bid for the construction of the police housing project. All except Pol Maj Khomkrib and Pol Sr Sgt Maj Sayan were members of the committee screening bids for the Royal Thai Police project to build 163 five-storey flats worth 3.7 billion baht.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Case heard that Pol Maj Khomkrib, as a project inspector, received bribes worth 60,000 baht from the company. Meanwhile, Pol Sr Sgt Maj Sayan, serving as project supervisor, pocketed 91 million baht in bribes.
Initially, the court handed life sentences to the six bid-screening officers and fined them 390,000 baht each. However, their sentences were reduced to 33 years and four months, with a fine of 260,000 baht each, due to their cooperation. Pol Maj Khomkrib was sentenced to three years and four months, while Pol Sr Sgt Maj Sayan was given a sentence of 12 years and eight months in prison.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
