The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) plans to refer a bribery case involving Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaichanok Chidchob and call-centre scam networks to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) next week, CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai said on Thursday.
The case stems from Mr Chaichanok’s police complaint on Oct 6, where he alleged that a group had offered him 40 million baht to halt crackdowns on call-centre gangs and illegal online gambling networks. Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said investigators had now taken the minister’s statement and were determining whether the case fell under police or NACC jurisdiction.
Preliminary findings indicated the matter likely qualified under the anti-corruption law, he added.
The CIB chief confirmed the Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the evidence before forwarding the case to the NACC, stressing that the inquiry will proceed transparently and in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, in parliament, Pheu Thai MP Siam Hathasongkorh, who chairs the House committee on telecommunications and digital affairs, said the panel believed Mr Chaichanok’s claims were credible.
The committee had invited the minister on Thursday to clarify who had made the bribe offer, but he was unable to attend due to urgent commitments and sent a representative in his place.
Mr Siam said the committee would summon Mr Chaichanok again, adding that coordination among relevant agencies was crucial to curb the resurgence of call-centre scams following the recent change of government. He stressed the need for accountability and vowed to pursue the case if progress stalled, calling it a matter of public trust and national security.