• 
• 

Published on December 26, 2007

The commission accepted the allegations were within its jurisdiction.

The commission is yet to name a special panel to look into the charges. It will approach the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) about a joint investigation tomorrow.

A commission source said the DSI could handle the case alone because it could more easily inspect assets. The DSI could coordinate directly with the US Justice Department, too.

Former authority governor Juthamas Siriwan has threatened to sue if anyone implicates her in allegations involving two Americans who won contracts to manage the 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival.

Meanwhile, the DSI is set to take over the fraud investigation into Buddhist amulet producers pending government approval, DSI director-general Sunai Manomai-udom said yesterday.

He said the DSI suspected the makers of Somdej Nue Hua amulets might have been involved in similar fraud in the past.

News reports earlier suggested Sitthikorn Bunchim, one of the producers, would soon come under investigation.

Sunai said the small number of people complaining about the amulets and demanding their money back did not reduce the seriousness of the alleged offence.

The Nation