Profile of Pol. Lt. Col. Piya Raksakul, the new Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), as expected. He chaired the Election Commission’s Subcommittee No. 36 investigating the Senate election rigging case, where he was part of the majority who recommended dismissing the petition and ending the investigation.
On 22 Sep 2026 GMT+7, rumors were confirmed when the Cabinet resolved to appoint Pol. Lt. Col. Piya Raksakul, then Director-General of the Department of Probation and chairman of the Election Commission’s Subcommittee No. 36 investigating the Senate election rigging case, as the new Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), succeeding Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthana Praedam.
Pol. Lt. Col. Piya is considered a DSI insider with extensive experience in investigating major cases, including serving as lead investigator in cases related to violent incidents and political protests by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in 2010.
- In 2009, he was a special case investigator at Division 8.
- In 2010, he became a special case expert at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
- In 2015, he served as a special case expert and deputy commander of the Consumer Protection and Environmental Crime Division.
- In 2022, he held the position of Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
- In 2024, he was transferred to serve as Deputy Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC).
- In 2025, he returned to become the Director-General of the Department of Probation.
- On 22 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the Cabinet resolved to appoint him as Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation.
- Security and political cases (2009-2010): While serving as a special case investigator at Division 8, he was part of the investigation team handling cases involving the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the Red Shirts.
- Ponzi scheme and consumer protection cases (2015): As deputy commander of the Consumer Protection and Environmental Crime Division, he played a key role in cracking down on and educating the public about the dangers of Ponzi schemes and fraudulent operations.
- Forest and natural resource encroachment cases (2022): While Deputy Director-General of DSI, he was assigned by the then Director-General to oversee laws and major cases involving forest encroachment, illegal logging, and fraudulent land title issuance.
- Senate election investigation (2026): He chaired the Election Commission’s Subcommittee No. 36 tasked with resolving disputes in the Senate election rigging case, which involved 229 accused individuals, including leaders of the Bhumjaithai Party. The subcommittee’s majority (5 to 2) voted to dismiss the petition and end the investigation, thus dropping allegations against the accused.
Opponents highlighted an incident where Pol. Lt. Col. Piya was seen waiting to greet and respectfully salute Anutin Charnvirakul at Buriram Airport when Anutin arrived to watch a motorcycle racing event. This image was used to suggest close ties to the Bhumjaithai Party and questioned his political impartiality. Calls were made for the Election Commission to remove him from chairing Subcommittee No. 36, citing that such behavior might indicate a lack of political neutrality and close association with Bhumjaithai Party leaders, including Anutin.
