Pol Gen Surachate left the court smiling, saying details would be addressed by his lawyer, reports the Bangkok Post.
Earlier yesterday, a nine-member independent inquiry panel summoned National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) commissioner Ekawit Watchawalku, Pol Gen Surachate, former NACC subcommittee member Sombat Tharatham, and Surasit (surname withheld), Mr Ekawit’s driver, to acknowledge allegations.
The allegations stem from claims that Mr Ekawit accepted a bribe of B246 weight of gold, worth millions of baht, from Pol Gen Surachate while the NACC was investigating an online gambling-related case against the former deputy national police chief.
The inquiry was conducted in private at the Supreme Court.
Police allege the gold was intended to influence the NACC’s consideration of the online gambling case.
Pol Gen Surachate has denied the allegations, maintained his innocence and challenged the police investigation through his legal team.
Because the allegations involve a serving NACC commissioner, the NACC is unable to conduct the investigation itself.
Under the constitution, the Supreme Court’s president is therefore authorised to appoint the independent inquiry panel.
Sanyaphatchara Samart, Pol Gen Surachate’s lawyer, said the independent inquiry panel formally notified his client of alleged misconduct for the first time, beyond what had previously been reported in the media.
A written explanation will be submitted on Aug 5, followed by oral testimony. The panel has scheduled its first official hearing for Aug 27, he said.