THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said today (Jan. 12) there is enough evidence to file charges against two former ministers and two senior Labour Ministry officials of taking bribes from Thai workers who went to work as wild berry pickers in Finland but human trafficking charges are still be investigated, TV Channel 7 said.
Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong briefly said that this case is a joint effort by DSI, Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak and Finnish Authorities with labour trafficking being a big issue abroad.
Finnish authorities have collected various pieces of evidence including the financial routes and they view this case as human trafficking with those accused now being investigated by DSI.
Pol. Maj. Waranan Srilam, DSI’s spokesperson, said a special investigation team held a meeting with the Attorney-General and a preliminary resolution was reached to file charges of taking bribes from Thai workers to go to work in Finland.
The case will be forwarded to National Anti-Corruption Commission which may set up its own committee to investigate or send it back to DSI to further delve into it.
However, more evidence is needed to charge them with human trafficking, he added.
Finnish authorities sent important evidence showing there is conspiracy between politicians, government officials and some civilians who had ganged up to take bribes from these berry pickers by getting the middleman who liaised with the job recruitment company in Finland to charge them 3,000 baht each to go work there in addition to actual expense without any legal right to do so.
During 2020-2023 12,000 Thais paid this extra money to go work in Finland as berry pickers, or a total of 36 million baht.
CAPTION:
Thai workers collecting wild berries in Finland, above, and storing them, Front Page. Both photos: Matichon
Also read: Former ministers, senior officials face charges of defrauding Thai berry pickers
Thailand demands answers after over 200 berry pickers catch Covid
House committee members barred from visiting Thaksin in person
Farmers now forbidden from drying rice on roads
New Covid JN.1 strain sweeping Thailand
Navy not lobbying ministers over Chinese submarine: Suthin
Thai tourism needs to learn the lessons of history
