DSI accepted to investigate Akara Gold Mining Company Limited or Akara Resources Public Company Limited Case violating the Foreign Business Act as its special case

DSI accepted to investigate Akara Gold Mining Company Limited or Akara Resources Public Company Limited Case violating the Foreign Business Act as its special case

       The DSI previously prosecuted 2 cases against a company named Akara Gold Mining Company Limited or Akara Resources Public Company Limited in the offence of doing gold mining business or known as “Akara Gold Mines” in Phetchabun and Phichit Provinces. The special case inquiry teams responsible for the 2 cases made the files of inquiry with their opinions and submitted them to related agencies, namely the public prosecutor of Special Litigation Department and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, while the DSI is still investigating other related issues in the case. Subsequently, the Civil Society to Reform the Resources and Gold Group by Mrs. Arom Kamjing and others filed a complaint letter to the DSI and the Office of the Prime Minister for monitoring the progress of prosecution against the said company for several offences, namely holding, possessing shares for foreigners as their nominees for doing gold mining business, mining minerals outside the mining concession area, releasing or causing the leak of toxic substances that generated adverse effects to the environment and health of people living nearby the mineral mines, and the offences relating to money laundering and tax evasion.

       In that case the Director-General Pol.Lt.Col. Korrawat Panprapakorn issued the orders to appoint investigation teams to conduct inspection and fact-finding investigation into the said complaint. On Febuary 25, 2021, the Director-General ordered to investigate the case of holding and possession of shares for foreigners for Akara Gold Mining Company Limited or Akara Resources Public Company Limited as a special case. Because it is an offence under the Foreign Business Act, B.E.2542 (1999) and it is regarded as an offence prescribed in the Notification of the Board of Special Case (No.7) B.E.2562 (2019) on Determination of the Nature of Crime Regarded as the Special Case Under Section 21, paragraph one (1) of the Special Case Investigation Act, B.E.2547 (2004). The Director-General assigned a Deputy Director-General Pol.Lt.Col. Supat Thamthanarug to be the head of special case inquiry official team, and urged the rapid completion of dynamic actions.

       For other matters in the complaint, the Director-General assigned a Deputy Director-General Pol.Lt.Col. Supat Thamthanarug to inspect whether the special case previously investigated contained the matter overlapping the matter in the said and its course of action was complete or not, and to coordinate with public prosecutors and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission receiving the file of special case inquiry from the special case inquiry team responsible for investigation into the said case. This is for further inspection and action as requested by the Civil Society to Reform the Resources and Gold Group.

       The DSI does not disregard this case but views that this case has attracted the public attention and caused adverse effects to the public interest. The DSI, therefore, has urged actions from its responsible team not only for fairness to all parties but also for the national interest. The DSI invites local people that either suffered or experienced adverse effects to give information to the DSI at all times. The DSI will urgently inform the result of its further action, if any.

Dated March 5, 2020