DSI Summons Oil Company Executives Over Fuel Hoarding

On July 9th, Thitiphat Chotidetchaichainanth, secretary to the Energy Minister, announced via Facebook that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) continues to expand its probe into fuel-related violations. The latest case, Special Case No. 59/2569, involves P.C. Siam Petroleum Company Limited in Surat Thani. What began as an investigation into fraudulent fuel transport documents has now expanded into charges of fuel hoarding and price manipulation during March.

Thitiphat confirmed that the DSI has issued summonses to the company's managing director to face charges on Monday, July 13th. This marks the third case brought against defendants under the Energy Ministry's intensified crackdown on fuel offenses.

Since Eknath Prom-in assumed the position of Energy Minister, multiple significant cases have been prosecuted. The first involved Trillion PetroTrading Company Limited, where the DSI charged Surath and associates with numerous violations including fuel adulteration, fraudulent transport documents, hoarding, price gouging, and breaches of the Prime Minister's Emergency Decree on Fuel Shortage Prevention (1973) and the Fuel Trading Act (2000). The defendants have already been informed of the charges and legal proceedings are underway.

The second case involves six refineries where defendants have received full notification of charges related to fraudulent fuel transport documents, following DSI's expansion of its investigation from fuel storage facilities in Surat Thani, Songkhla, and Chumphon. Further investigations are ongoing.

Currently, a special task force from the Energy Ministry and DSI continues inspecting fuel storage facilities in Kanchanaburi and 13 additional locations nationwide. Officials have identified concerns regarding off-system fuel transfers and hoarding during March, with evidence being compiled for legal action against all violators.