Thai Senate approves draft law on anti-transnational crime

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - The Thai Senate on Friday, the last day for the present parliamentary session, unanimously approved a draft law on the prevention and suppression of transnational crime. Chaired by Thai Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij, the senators approved the draft law, earlier given the green light by an extraordinary parliamentary committee. Highlights of the draft law include empowering assigned investigators to arrest or seize or impound suspected transnational criminal, while legal punishment becomes heavier than the existing law, and to enable the draft law to go in line with the UN Convention against Organised Transnational Crime. Also, Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is given authority to step in and to make investigation. However, transnational crime cases in the country need to be first considered by the Attorney General and the national police chief. The Thai Parliament will go into a temporary recess from April 20, as approved by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in a Royal Command issued recently. (TNA)