Cabinet zealous in reporting assets

By JAKRAWAN SALAYTOO 
THE NATION 

 

 

FROM LISTS INCLUDE ITEMS FEW HUNDRED BAHT TO MOST EXPENSIVE COLLECTIBLES

 

CURRENT AND former members of the Prayut Chan-o-cha government have been more careful about reporting their assets with the anti-graft agency, even reporting items worth only a few hundred baht.

 

Many of them also remembered to file a complete report of their possession, including luxury wristwatches. 

 

The detailed reporting was apparently inspired by the ongoing expensive wristwatch controversy dogging Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

 

New Cabinet members and those who have left their seats are required by law to submit with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) details about their assets and debts belonging to themselves, their spouses and minor children.

 

Submitted financial reports seen by reporters at the NACC headquarters yesterday showed that most Cabinet members carefully went into great detail in reporting their belongings. Assets valued at a few hundred baht were included in their lists, along with expensive jewellery and collectibles.

 

Many new Cabinet members and those appointed to new positions included watches in their list of assets. 

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat reported having a watch valued at over Bt200,000.

 

Grisada Boonrach

 

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach told the NACC that he owned a Rolex worth Bt287,270 and a Longines watch valued at Bt129,026. His deputy Luck Wajananawat reported that he has three wristwatches valued at about Bt10,000 each. He also said that he owns Buddha images valued at Bt500 to Bt2,500 each.

 

Deputy Prime Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya reported that he has three wristwatches valued from Bt200,000 to Bt700,000 each.

 

Social Development and Human Security Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat reported that he had three watches each worth Bt250,000 to Bt920,000.

 

Deputy Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara reported having10 watches valued at about Bt200,000 in total.

In the latest Cabinet reshuffle in November, 10 new government ministers were appointed, eight members moved to new ministerial positions, and nine left the Cabinet.

 

Among the 10 new Cabinet members – who are required by the NACC law to report their assets and liabilities before taking office – Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn and his wife are the wealthiest, with assets totalling Bt179.1 million.

 

Others have more assets than debts, ranging between Bt15 million and Bt84 million. 

 

Luck, the deputy agriculture minister, and his wife, have Bt84.5 million in net assets. Weerasak, the tourism minister, and his spouse, have Bt60 million. 

 

Grisada, the agriculture minister, has assets worth Bt15.2 million, including three pistols and 16 amulets, plus two luxury watches.

 

Kobsak Pootrakool

 

Kobsak Pootrakool, the minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, has total assets of Bt23 million, including a grand piano valued at Bt535,500. Deputy Defence Minister General Chaichan Changmongkol and his spouse have Bt30.2 million in assets.

 

Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan has assets worth Bt16 million. Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn and his wife have Bt28.4 million in net assets.

 

Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachintorn and his wife have Bt66.9 million in net assets, and Deputy Industry Minister Somchai Harnhirun and his spouse have Bt72.4 million.

 

Among the nine former Cabinet members who were replaced in the November reshuffle, former deputy education minister Panadda Diskul reported the most assets, totalling Bt1.3 billion, Bt7.4 million more than when he joined the Cabinet in 2014.

 

Former tourism and sports minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul reported Bt319 million in net assets, including watches and belts worth Bt1.9 million and nine luxury wristwatches valued at Bt25.7 million belonging to her husband. She saw a Bt13.8 million increase in her assets from the previous Cabinet.

 

General Tanasak Patimapakorn

 

Former deputy prime minister General Tanasak Patimapakorn reported assets of Bt187.1 million, up Bt1.1 million compared to when he joined the Cabinet in 2014.

 

Former deputy defence minister General Udomdej Sitabutr told the NACC that he has Bt56.8 million in net assets, Bt2.2 million more than when he first joined the government.

 

Ex-commerce minister Apiradi Tantrabhorn reported net assets of Bt37.8 million, up Bt8.4 million from when she joined the Cabinet.

Former deputy PM Admiral Narong Pipattanasai reported Bt14.1 million in net assets, up Bt3.3 million.

 

Former deputy transport minister Pichit Akrathit reported net assets of Bt154.1 million; former science and technology minister Atchaka Sriboonruang Bt72.3 million; and ex-PM’s Office minister Omsin Cheevaphruk Bt69.9 million.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30336699

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-20

People declaring possessions valued at as little as 200 baht, people holding up pieces of paper - this all seems very official. 

 

No bent officials here, then. 

Nearly all of them dollar millionaires! 

 

 

6 hours ago, rkidlad said:

People declaring possessions valued at as little as 200 baht

Doesn't mean they are !

4 hours ago, madmitch said:

Nearly all of them dollar millionaires! 

Would be even more interesting how those assets were accumulated.

4 hours ago, madmitch said:

Nearly all of them dollar millionaires! 

 

 

 

The army pays well it seems

It is not important what assets they disclose it is about how they got the money to purchase them?

We all know they are really as honest as the day is long.