Police arrested the director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for allegedly taking a bribe for promotion approval and nearly 5 million baht in cash was found in his office.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, led subordinates to arrest Ratchada Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, the director-general, on charges of taking a bribe and violating Section 157 of the Criminal Code. Mr Ratchada denied the charges.
Police searched his office and found 4.9 million baht in cash and a document concerning his alleged bribe demand. Police brought him away from his office for further interrogation.
The arrest followed an allegation from Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, former chief of the Kaeng Krachan National Park, that Mr Ratchada demanded bribes from heads of field units and moved to remote areas the officials who refused to pay him.
The allegation led to investigation by relevant organizations and finally the arrest. (TNA)