Crackdown will eradicate ‘influential figures’ within 3 months: Chada

The Interior Ministry will spearhead the campaign to ensure public safety as well as transparency in local administration, Deputy Minister Chada Thaiseth said on Tuesday.

A list of influential figures – a euphemism for influential crooks – has been compiled since September from public input via the ministry’s hotline, with names of suspects divided into red and yellow categories.

The red category covers suspects directly accused of wrongdoing in cases that lack evidence for arrest, while yellow-category suspects of lower priority require further monitoring.

On Wednesday, Chada told the House committee on administration that there were 180 “influential people” operating in all but 10 provinces of Thailand.

Investigators will follow their financial trails, taxation histories and business associations, he said.

“We aim to use…