Public prosecutors "must boost credibility"

       The Department of Special Investigation's (DSI) director-general Thawee Sodsong yesterday urged public prosecutors to build their credibility so their indictments against special case suspects would be accepted by foreign law enforcement officers.
       Speaking at a seminar on empowering public prosecutors investigating special cases, Pol Col Thawee said the prosecutors must work strictly by the book to ensure accuracy in each individual case's investigation process.
       Otherwise, members of the public and also foreign law enforcement officers would lose their trust in public prosecutors' performance.
       According to Pol Col Thawee, by far the weakest points in DSI investigations into special cases are insufficient evidence and the fact that influential figures, such as politicians, try to influence the outcome of the investigations they are carrying out.
       Over the past six years since the DSI was set up it has handled 567 cases. Of that total, the DSI has worked with the Office of the Attorney-General in the investigation of 287 cases. Among them, 109 cases have been indicted in court, and the court has already handed down verdicts for 102 cases. Pol Col Thawee said he was satisfied with the statistics.