Prawit ‘not obliged to declare assets he didn’t own’

[webfact]

Prawit ‘not obliged to declare assets he didn’t own’

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

NACC OFFICIAL CLARIFIES ON LEGAL REQUIREMENT EVEN AS ANTI-GRAFT CHIEF OFFERS TO STEP DOWN FROM PROBE

 

DEPUTY Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would not be required to declare his extravagant watch collection as assets under the anti-graft law if the watches did not belong to him, National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said yesterday.

 

At an NACC press briefing yesterday, Worawit said that if the watches belonged to Prawit, he would have to explain when he obtained them.

 

If Prawit had obtained the watches before he took government office, he would have to explain why he had failed to list them in his assets declaration, he added. If he acquired them after entering the Cabinet he would not have to declare them until he left, Worawit said.

 

“Assets subject to be declared to the NACC must ‘belong’ to the person. Theoretically, if [the assets] do not belong to the person, his spouse, or his minor children, they won’t need to be declared,” said Worawit.

 

The explanation on the legal requirements came after weeks of investigation into Prawit’s luxury watches.

 

The controversy sparked off in early December and continues to capture the public’s attention, as the number of watches seen on the general’s wrist over time grew from one to more than 20. The combined worth of the watches is believed to exceed Bt20 million.

 

Questions have arisen over how he obtained the expensive items given the income of a retired general and whether he had declared them to the NACC before his incumbency.

 

Prawit, joint junta leader and defence minister, has been asked to clarify the origin of the watches following the emergence of dozens of photos showing him wearing fancy watches on many occasions.

 

The secretary-general has refused to disclose any further detail regarding the ownership of the watches. 

 

If the watches were a loan, some critics question whether Prawit had breached the law that prohibited government officials from receiving gifts worth more than Bt3,000.

 

Worawit said NACC officials would look at all the legal aspects of the case.

 

While there was some concern that the loan explanation would become a new stock argument for politicians concealing assets, Worawit said the agency would not necessarily regard this type of defence as valid.

 

Worawit also said yesterday that the NACC president, Pol General Watcharapol Prasanratchakit, had announced in a meeting on Tuesday that he would withdraw from the panel probing the case.

 

This was despite the fact that he was neither a stakeholder, nor did he have any reason to be disqualified under the charter, the secretary-general said.

 

Watcharapol has come under pressure since the scandal broke. 

 

The NACC president in 2014 had worked in the coup-installed government, closely under Prawit. The public has demonstrated distrust in the scrutiny of the junta leader with Watcharapol at the helm.

 

A brief scuffle also broke out at a press briefing after a solo pro-democracy activist Ake Auttagorn showed up unexpectedly and gave a picture to Worawit.

 

The pictures showed Napoleon the pig from George Orwell’s political allegory “Animal Farm”. There was also an image of “three wise monkeys” wearing diamond rings and watches. 

 

Ake was quickly removed from the press conference room. 

 

In the novella “Animal Farm”, Napoleon is a leader in the movement to overthrow the human ruler of the farm. He promises to make all animals equal and says he will never be like the oppressive men. But, after a while in power, Napoleon adopts human mannerisms and becomes “more equal” than the other animals.

 

Prawit, meanwhile, kept quiet and was guarded by six military aides who kept him away from reporters.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30337081

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-25

[Samui Bodoh]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Assets subject to be declared to the NACC must ‘belong’ to the person. Theoretically, if [the assets] do not belong to the person, his spouse, or his minor children, they won’t need to be declared,” said Worawit.

If someone accepted a free limo with a driver from a person seeking influence, it would be a crime under any anti-corruption regime anywhere in the world.

 

The watches were a thing of value to Prawit or else he would not have worn them (if they actually belong to another person).

 

This is giving a gift to an official and it is corruption. 

 

Period.

 

[Get Real]

Now, everybody can see that Prawit is one of the good guys. He would never try to hide or not declare anything, due to that this is one of his duties as a public servant.

 

How low does people think, that a person would go to get as much as possible out of his time in power. This is outrageous!

Edited January 24, 2018 by Get Real

[tracker1]

Most will know this is going to go nowhere just gives some something to write about

[Odysseus123]

6 minutes ago, tracker1 said:

Most will know this is going to go nowhere just gives some something to write about

Yep.

[lamyai3]

Very creative - of course in the grand scheme of things no one ever really owns anything. As one of the watchmakers points out in their advertising slogan:

 

“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”

 

Edited January 24, 2018 by lamyai3

[ezzra]

Here we have a general and DPM who's suppose to be smart and knowledgeable

of the laws of the land, now he hides behind the claims of ' prove the

watches are mine ' arguments, he should know and act better than that

for a man in his position...

[webfact]

Gen Prawit needs not declare the pricey wristwatches if they were borrowed from friends : NACC

By Thai PBS

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan needs not have to declare to the National Anti-Corruption Commission if he does not own any of the pricey wristwatches he was seen wearing as shown in the social media, said NACC secretary-general Worawit Sookboon on Wednesday (Jan 24).

 

The above remark by the NACC secretary-general was in response to a reporter’s question whether General Prawit would be required to declare the expensive wristwatches if they were lent to him by friends.

 

Mr Worawit explained that, according to the NACC law, only the assets that belong to General Prawit, his legal spouse and children who are not legally mature are required to be declared.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-prawit-needs-not-declare-pricey-wristwatches-borrowed-friends-nacc/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-01-25

[lemonjelly]

so this guys goes around asking to borrow exclusive watches from his friends..... give us a break and stop insulting everyone’s intelligence.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prawit, meanwhile, kept quiet and was guarded by six military aides who kept him away from reporters.

Now everyone can buy expensive things and just say a friend lent it to me.  That expensive three story mansion, the exotic automobiles, those tailored suits and nice watches not mine.  I borrowed them from Prawit's friend.

 

Have never seen such mighty and tough military men act so afraid.  They have taken the army to its current low.  How could you want your children to serve under such people ?  Guessing the watch companies are well versed in dealing with this and will protect their valued clientèle. 

[greenchair]

Classic. 

There was no need to declare my extra 3 billion, I borrowed it from a some friends and I've given it back now. 

I can't remember my friends name. 

[rkidlad]

So what do people learn from this? It’s okay to have expensive watches. Because if anyone asks you can just say you ‘borrowed’ them. If anyone asks to speak to the friend, you just say he’s dead. 

 

Amazing how low they’ll stoop to protect one of their own. And the PM wonders why people wouldn’t vote for him in a fair election. 

[metisdead]

A post using ALL CAPS has been removed, please turn off your Caps Lock when posting. 

[mok199]

The Rich and The Shamless.....

[Ricardo]

"DEPUTY Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would not be required to declare his extravagant watch collection as assets under the anti-graft law if the watches did not belong to him"

 

But surely he would have been morally-obliged (or even legally-obliged ?) to return a high-value borrowed-watch or watches, within a reasonably-short time after he'd died, to the estate of the lender ?

[Ossy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 . . . . wristwatches if they were borrowed from friends : NACC

" . . . IF they were borrowed from friends." . . . I ask you! How stupid are these top Thai officials prepared to sound, in order to defend a lying cheat of a boss? In yet another ill-prepared utterance, the NACC's Secretary General has shown, to the world, that his agency - the anti-corruption agency - like most, if not all of the other official agencies is simply not fit for purpose. No wonder he has that hang-dog expression on his face, as he offers this amazing statement that the NACC accepts that Prawit didn't acquire the watches before coming to 'power'. Come to think of it, the entire government machine is unfit for purpose. Can anyone - fellow posters invited - name a Ministry or minister who can be seen to be doing a creditable job, of late? And don't say 'TAT' . . . please!

Edited January 25, 2018 by Ossy
omisson

[1337markus]

Good as farang I can go and borrow land from the government who dont use it and not declare it thanks!

[rkidlad]

This really does set a great precedent for future corruption. 

 

Let’s say you’re someone in government who decides who gets a contract for a job. So someone puts their bid in, and you say to them, “Do you like Rolex watches?” They answer with a confused “huh?”, so you say again, “do you like Rolex watches. Say the Daytona limited edition?”. The bidder gets your point and goes out and buys one. Even has the receipt and all. Then, you simply ‘borrow’ said watch. 

 

Then we have a shower of greedy pigs all rolling around in ‘borrowed’ oppulence. And to think they had a coup to stop that sort of thing. 

[rkidlad]

3 minutes ago, 1337markus said:

Good as farang I can go and borrow land from the government who dont use it and not declare it thanks!

I borrowed an iPhone from someone’s bag on the BTS. I’ve been meaning to return it but I can’t find the owner. 

[Ossy]

34 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

But surely he would have been morally-obliged (or even legally-obliged ?)

Legally, probably no obligation regarding borrowings and, as for morally, with Prawit, that would not even enter the equation.

[The Old Bull]

Stop weaseling , you have been caught. Do the honorable thing and quit.

[rkidlad]

3 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

Stop weaseling , you have been caught. Do the honorable thing and quit.

And go to jail.

 

[dinsdale]

 STOP IT. I don't mind a good laugh but this is tooooooooo much.

[Oziex1]

Took them a while to come up with this. If it is the law why was it not used at the beginning of this farce. 

[Eligius]

This intelligence-insulting nonsense was spouted by a NACC headman at a press briefing. The 'press' should have burst out into riotous, derisive and mocking laughter that would not stop for minutes on end. There should have been pandemonium, Everest-levels of sarcastic comments and outraged derision heaped upon this disgusting head representative of the '(anti-)corruption' body. There should have been mass press outcries of: 'We' re not going to take this nonsense any more. We are not all little children or fools!' Instead, what do we get? Silence and wai-ing obedience from the good little 'press' slaves.

 

Pathetic.

 

 

[worgeordie]

Has no one from NACC,asked the bloody obvious question,show

us the receipts for all these watches,where they were bought,if

imported from overseas,was tax paid,and who owns them,the

receipts would explain everything,but the way things are,I suppose 

either the dog or termites have eaten them !

regards worgeordie

[rkidlad]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

While there was some concern that the loan explanation would become a new stock argument for politicians concealing assets, Worawit said the agency would not necessarily regard this type of defence as valid

Ah! The old pick-and-choose law. Coincidentally, this has been favouring the rich and powerful throughout history. Stats would suggest it's not random. 

 

How about you simply can't borrow anything. Maybe remind them all again of the 'sufficiency economy'. If you can't afford it, you can't have it. Not even if it's borrowed. 

 

This would save a hell of a lot time. 

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

if they were lent to him by friends.

the future of corruption in thailand is rosy indeed

[PattayaAngel]

What's his house look like?  cars?   holidays?   kids education?   bank accounts?  but they are not allowed to investigate those right?

 

PS anyway he's living on 'borrowed' time

Edited January 25, 2018 by PattayaAngel

[baboon]

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan needs not have to declare to the National Anti-Corruption Commission if he does not own any of the pricey wristwatches he was seen wearing as shown in the social media, said NACC secretary-general Worawit Sookboon on Wednesday (Jan 24).

 

'Err, I borrowed them? No? Oh I don't bloody know, then. Look, you think of something and justify your existence for Christ's sake. I'm busy...'

Edited January 25, 2018 by baboon