Bribe inquiry targets 9 police generals

       A Police Commission subcommittee looking into alleged bribery in last year's reshuffle of senior officers has accused nine police generals of corruption.
       Police Comissioner Noppadon Somboonsap, the subcommittee spokesman, said the names of those implicated could not be revealed until the results of the inquiry were handed to Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban,possibly tomorrow.
       A police source said the generals were based in Bangkok and some provinces.
       The subcommittee will ask Mr Suthep to set up a new fact-finding committee to review the results of the investigation as the panel does not have the authority to launch an inquiry into high-ranking police officials.
       It is only authorised to conduct a preliminary investigation and gather information for a fact-finding committee to be established by Mr Suthep, the source said.
       Pol Gen Noppadon dismissed speculation the inquiry was aimed at embattled national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon. He said people should give the subcommittee some credit and not just insult it.
       As to whether the panel had any solid evidence of corruption in the reshuffle considering no witnesses had testified about bribery demands, he said there were activities that were very close to "seeking a bribe".
       A bank statement of a woman providing alleged details of money being transferred to a senior police officer to buy a promotion would need to be further examined by an authorised committee to find out who transferred the money and to whom, Pol Gen Noppadon said.
       The evidence was submitted to the panel on Friday by Pol Col Wirayot Chuenklinthoopsiri, a deputy chief of the Kang Krachan district police station in Phetchaburi, who was summoned to testify.
       Former deputy permanent secretary for justice Thongthong Chandrangsu, who heads the inquiry into another corruption accusation facing Pol Gen Patcharawat,meanwhile, said the inquiry should be finished within a couple of months.
       Pol Gen Patcharawat is accused o f hiring a private company for police public relations work for 18 million baht without first calling for tenders from other interested parties.