The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has concluded its probe into the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit and suggested the case be suspended due to a lack of new evidence which which to pursue the investigation.
DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang said the DSI's Bureau of Special Crime 1 has recommended the investigation be suspended because no new evidence has come to light.
Pol Col Paisit said the bureau has investigated the case for more than 11 years and examined all the evidence it could find including sites where Mr Somchai's body was allegedly disposed of by being burned.
He said the remains were retrieved for forensic examination but regardless, forensic specialists could not make an identification because of the poor sample quality.
Moreover, the Supreme Court ruled late last year to acquit five police officers suspected of abducting Mr Somchai in March 2004, he said.
Pol Col Paisit said the bureau therefore decided to conclude the investigation and submitted its decision to the prosecution for consideration.
Angkhana Neelapaijit, the wife of the missing lawyer, said she was informed of the DSI's decision this week and will ask the department to explain its decision.
She questioned the criteria the DSI used for its decision to end the investigation, noting the department has never made any progress in the probe since it accepted the case in July 2005.
Ms Angkahna, also a member of the National Human Rights Commission, said she would lodge a petition today with the DSI to demand a clarification.
Pol Lt Col Phayao said yesterday the prosecution will ultimately decide if the case should be dropped or pursued further.
He said Mr Somchai's disappearance was one of the bureau's high-profile cases and he ordered that it be dropped because there is no suspect. "I don't know what the prosecution will decide, but I am ready to explain to Ms Angkhana the decision which is in line with the procedures when an investigation makes no progress and wrongdoers cannot be identified," he said.
Mr Somchai went missing while representing five southern Muslim insurgents who claimed they had been tortured by police. Witnesses reported seeing five police bundling the lawyer into a car on Ramkhamhaeng Road in Bangkok.
