reader Posted December 27, 2022 Posted December 27, 2022 From Thai PBS World Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya, was arrested today (Tuesday) on corruption charges. Armed with a search warrant, officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and police from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) raided Rutchada’s office at 9.30am this morning and formally notified him of the charges. The search of his office uncovered 5 million baht in cash. He has denied all the charges. Rutchada was later taken to the ACD office for questioning. The arrest was the result of an investigation following a complaint received by the ACD from Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi, accusing Rutchada of transferring an official to as post in a rural area for refusing his demand for a 500,000 baht bribe. Rutchada was also accused of demanding money from budgets allocated to various units under the department, such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and fire-fighting units. Quote
