Don denies wife’s stockholding bars him from office

By THE NATION

 

 

AFTER DAYS of speculation, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has declared that his wife Narirat’s stockholdings should not disqualify him from holding a ministerial seat, despite a ruling by the Election Commission (EC).

 

Don claimed that contrary to the EC’s findings, the assets were actually reported to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on at least four occasions in accordance with the law.

 

“These stockholdings are shares that his wife received from her father as an inheritance some 37 years ago,” said the Foreign Ministry. 

 

“They are not concessionary shares but are shares held within the family and unlisted on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.”

 

The stockholders consist of 6-7 relatives of his wife and the shares have remained untouched ever since they were inherited, the Ministry added.

 

It also said Don had not yet been notified in writing of the EC’s ruling but would be prepared to explain everything to them once they formally approached him.

 

It was first reported last Thursday that the EC had voted that the stockholdings could breach constitutional requirements to ministers and thus force the 68-year-old out of office.

 

Initial reports said that Narirat’s stake in the company exceeded 5 per and this was also not declared, another potential breach of the Partner and Share Management of Ministers Act.

 

The 2017 constitution requires that disclosures be made by ministers of any stockholdings owned by them, theirs spouses or their non-adult children.

 

The EC has since yet to clarify the report, only saying that Don and other eight ministers are being confidentially investigated following a petition filed in May last year by Pheu Thai Party lawyer Ruangkrai Leekitwattana.

 

While he did declare Narirat’s stockholdings to the NACC a total of four times since he started serving the Cabinet in 2013, her amount of stocks did exceed the legal limit, said the EC.

 

According to the Isra News Agency, Narirat’s shares in Panawong Company Limited, as shown in Don’s second asset declaration in August 2015, showed that she held 7,200 shares, equivalent to a 12 per cent stake.

 

Her shareholdings in Panawong Realty Company Limited also covers 3,500 shares, accounting for 17.5 per cent of the total.

 

Isra News reported that Narirat lowered her stake to a legally-acceptable four per cent in both companies as of last October, months after Ruangkrai filed a petition against Don. 

 

The excessive shares were transferred to their 35-year-old son, Puen Pramudwinai.

 

Meanwhile, PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted that had no plans to shuffle either Don or the Cabinet in the near future. 

 

“I won’t make any changes. If they can’t stay, they’ll have to quit,” Prayut said angrily.

 

Don also met Prayut at Government House yesterday but both refused to reveal details of their meeting.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30346981

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-05

Old Chinese proverb, "Politicians are like standing wall dividers, they have to be crooked to stand up"......

 

Why is the Foreign Ministry commenting on what is essentially a personal matter? Don's dealings with the EC and the NACC have nothing to do with his role as foreign minister. Very odd.

Replace the word watches with the word shares and you have the same story, just different players.

 

Unusually high and unexplained wealth, they all have it. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

AFTER DAYS of speculation, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has declared that his wife Narirat’s stockholdings should not disqualify him from holding a ministerial seat, despite a ruling by the Election Commission (EC).

again, a thai official claiming to be above the law; that generation, today's decision-makers ,  and their selective law

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“I won’t make any changes. If they can’t stay, they’ll have to quit,” Prayut said angrily.

 

Calm down, it's not Friday evening yet.

 

What are you peasants getting excited about?

Do you know who i am?

A government minister thats who, these silly laws only apply to peasants not the likes of me.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It also said Don had not yet been notified in writing of the EC’s ruling but would be prepared to explain everything to them once they formally approached him.

He is just as awful as the other junta leadership, and the country would be better without him, but not sure this carries the same weight as the fat man's watches.   The amount of money and company in question are not mentioned, so it is difficult to surmise the severity of his failure to report.  The liable laws that protect the thin skinned do make it hard to see the truth. 

Says he,but its not up to him,if he and his wife have broken

any laws,but he like others will stick like a Limpet and take

some shifting.

regards worgeordie

4 hours ago, webfact said:

...Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has declared that his wife Narirat’s stockholdings should not disqualify him from holding a ministerial seat...

Oh!

Okay.

Next!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

While he did declare Narirat’s stockholdings to the NACC a total of four times since he started serving the Cabinet in 2013,

Not to worry Don. The NACC will know what to do for junta ministers. They will probably just retro active the files back to 2013. You are in safe hands as long as the NACC is involved. ⌚

Would be interesting to see what P1 and P2 wives have ( or is that not  allowed ) 

think we all know the answer - NO 

kerching kerching $$$$$$$$ 

once again we see the political shuffle to try to avoid the law, sons, daughters, cousins,  maids, chauffeurs etc seem to be the way to do it for them, time to use someone as an example of what happens when you lie/deceive on your declaration

7 hours ago, YetAnother said:

again, a thai official claiming to be above the law; that generation, today's decision-makers ,  and their selective law

 

Strangely enough when he was appointed to that position it was legal.

 

The law has since been changed and what was OK then May not be OK now.

 

In addition to that the shares are privately owned within the family and are not listed or available on the stock market.

 

quote from the OP

 

“These stockholdings are shares that his wife received from her father as an inheritance some 37 years ago,” said the Foreign Ministry. 

 

“They are not concessionary shares but are shares held within the family and unlisted on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.”

 

The stockholders consist of 6-7 relatives of his wife and the shares have remained untouched ever since they were inherited, the Ministry added.