Ex-national parks chief’s complaint rejected in bribery scandal case

A bribery scandal involving a former director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand took a new turn as the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases dismissed the complaint filed by the accused against the arresting police officers.

Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya accused members of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of malfeasance, fabricating evidence, trespass, maltreatment, and illegal assembly.

Rutchada was arrested on December 27 last year at his office for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes from subordinates seeking promotions or preferred transfers. During the police sting operation, approximately 5 million baht in cash was discovered in envelopes within his office safe. The arrest followed a complaint filed against him.

In response to the dismissal of Rutchada’s…