Ruttaphon explained the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice has set up an investigative committee for Director Yak after he gave an unauthorized interview on the Tangmo case. He emphasized that the action follows regulations after repeated complaints and denied any political maneuvering to block the promotion to Deputy Director-General.
At 10:45 a.m. on 2 September 2026, Police Lieutenant General Ruttaphon Naowarat, Minister of Justice, gave an interview at the Government House regarding the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice appointing a committee to investigate Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaphon Disayatham, known as Director Yak, director of the Natural Resources and Environment Case Division at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). This was in response to an unauthorized media interview he gave about the Tangmo case. Ruttaphon said that, to his knowledge, complaints were first made eight months ago during the previous Permanent Secretary's tenure but no action was taken. After the new Permanent Secretary assumed office, the complaints resurfaced, accompanied by evidence. Therefore, the Permanent Secretary had to appoint an investigation committee, as regulations require that a level 9 civil servant like Director Yak be investigated by the Permanent Secretary.
When asked about the nature of the complaint, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruttaphon said it concerned an interview about the case of Miss Pattharida Patcharawirapong, known as Tangmo, the actress. He did not know the details of when or how the interview was given. When further asked about rumors that the investigation committee was formed to block Director Yak's promotion to Deputy Director-General due to his past investigations involving political figures, Ruttaphon responded that he had inquired with the ministry and no appointment process was underway. He also dismissed political pressure claims, noting that politically sensitive cases previously investigated by the DSI have since been transferred to other agencies.