Thai society was shocked when well-known serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya, who has been a thorn in the flesh of the powers that be for years, was arrested on January 28 on an extortion charge.
Following a sting operation that included anti-corruption officials, Srisuwan was arrested for allegedly demanding 1.5 million baht from the director-general of the Rice Department in exchange for dropping his plan to lodge a complaint of alleged corruption against the official.
The police action followed the filing of a complaint by Natthakit Khongthip, director-general of the Rice Department. The official claimed that Srisuwan, and two others — Yotwarit Chuklom and Pimnattha Jiraputthiphak, a former United Thai Nation Party candidate — had tried to extort 3 million baht from him.
Yotwarit, also known as Jeng Dokjik, is an aide to Deputy Prime Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.
Before…
