Watch scandal not behind Prawit’s removal from panel: PM

By THE NATION

 

FILE photo

 

DEPUTY PRIME Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who earlier this year was hit by a scandal over his collection of luxury watches, has been dismissed from the head adviser for an anti-corruption committee.
 

The change to the committee was made via the absolute power of Article 44 and issued on Wednesday.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday denied the move resulted from the watch scandal, which remains unresolved, and refused to say whether the move was taken to boost the government’s image.

 

“[We just tried to] reduce his workload. There’s no problem at all. Don’t think that,” Prayut told reporters. 

 

“This has nothing to do with [the watch scandal].”

 

Prawit had been seen wearing different watches that could have cost from millions to tens of millions of baht, raising questions about possible corruption.

 

But the Deputy PM and Defence Minister maintained that the watches had been lent by a friend, who had subsequently died.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been investigating the case, but following repeated delays it has so far failed to rule on whether Prawit’s possession of the watches breached any laws.

 

Prawit’s role on the committee – while being scrutinised over the watches – had previously been red-flagged by the head of a sub-panel under the anti-corruption committee, Tortrakul Yomnak.

 

However, Prayut yesterday reiterated that his deputy’s removal from the committee was to lighten Prawit’s workload. Deputy Prime Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya would take on some of Prawit’s work, he said. 

 

“There are as many as 50 committees, so we have to take some off Prawit, otherwise, Prawit will have too many meetings to attend,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30352322

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-17

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Watch scandal not behind Prawit’s removal from panel: PM

Yeah?

 

Well, it should have been. 

Edited August 16, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

What would this PM do if he is the next Prime Mister and cannot use these powers to run the country?  It is really easy to be PM when you can make up your own rules.   

14 minutes ago, MysteryIsland said:

What would this PM do if he is the next Prime Mister and cannot use these powers to run the country?  It is really easy to be PM when you can make up your own rules.   

When he retains the pm position after the "election" he will still have the guns and any section whatever he decides is necessary to return happiness to the people.

"...We just tried to reduce his workload. There’s no problem at all. Don’t think that,” Prayut told reporters. “This has nothing to do with [the watch scandal]..."

 

Hmm...

 

This is clear evidence that Prayut is fully aware of the "watch scandal" and all the details involved.

 

Does this mean that he will be arrested and charged the same way that Yingluck was? Corruption in his Cabinet that he was fully aware of and did nothing to prevent/stop? Criminal negligence?

 

Just curious...

 

Now that he's plenty of time on his hands, he will have lots more time to 'borrow more watches from friends' who also ' borrow them from other friend' who also....

Watch scandal was not behind Ole Faties removal from panel, well it damn well should have been.

The whole thing was corrupt. Lieiing about borrowing from dead friends was pathetic.

Edited August 16, 20187 yr by colinneil

What scandal? He only borrowed them didn't he. The wonderfully diligent NACC will give him the all clear once those pesky watch companies eventually decide to stop giving the NACC the run around. Remember guys, if you borrow stuff from friends, just make sure to send the stuff back after they die.......

 

But seriously, what the actual <deleted>.... How is this fat slob still even working, he is an abomination

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Now that he's plenty of time on his hands, he will have lots more time to 'borrow more watches from friends' who also ' borrow them from other friend' who also....

"plenty of time on his hands" i like what you did there . . . . 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“This has nothing to do with [the watch scandal].”

are we at the point yet of believing the exact opposite of anything he says ?

But isn’t this a huge loss of face for Prawit? What will this mean going forward? 

 

I still laugh at his excuse that he borrowed the watches from a dead friend. Seven year olds could do better than that. Absolutely ridiculous and even more ridiculous that most of the public seemingly don’t care. 

His removal was done in a 'timely manner'.

 

Wonder if he is using Timex watches now.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“There are as many as 50 committees, so we have to take some off Prawit, otherwise, Prawit will have too many meetings to attend,” he said.

Here he is taking notes at one such meeting.

 

Edited August 17, 20187 yr by Darcula

It's because he gets the sh..ts too much !

I really feel the 'watch scandal' has been another case of misunderstanding.... :)))

2 minutes ago, pattayadgw said:

I really feel the 'watch scandal' has been another case of misunderstanding.... :)))

I hope you were in sarcasm mode when you posted that, if not and you actually believe that you need to seek some medical help.

31 minutes ago, Darcula said:

Here he is taking notes at one such meeting.

 

Oh dear! What's Pinocchio going to do now, Invoke rule 44 no sleeping on the job

1 hour ago, rkidlad said:

 

 

I still laugh at his excuse that he borrowed the watches from a dead friend. Seven year olds could do better than that. 

 

Apparently, it was a better excuse than " the dog ate the receipts"

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

When he retains the pm position after the "election" he will still have the guns and any section whatever he decides is necessary to return happiness to the people.

Yep and if they don't accept his form of happiness he could always revert to the methods he used in 2010 given he still appears to have support of his masters.

Just as with the government, image is everything for the top end watch manufacturers - they spend a fortune on advertising to link themselves with the likes of Roger Federer and George Clooney. And in spite of his celebrity and acting chops, they're not going to pay Danny Devito to do this.

 

Hardly a surprise then that the watch companies are unwilling to respond. Aside from the already much reported issues of nepotism to contend with, it'd be like Jimmy Choo agreeing to associate their product with the Ugly Sisters. 

Edited August 17, 20187 yr by lamyai3

Amazing how long it takes to tell the origin of the wristwatches. If the watches have really been lent, where is the problem of simply presenting the receipts? Due to the duration of the investigation, there is the assumption that the simple lending story is not true. Furthermore, a tax investigation should also be carried out.
Were the watches maybe purchased abroad and illegally smuggled into Thailand without paying the customs? 

The whole story stinks worse than a pile of dung in the sun.

 

The Toad King has become an unsustainable liability and something of the proverbial albatross around Uncle’s neck. It follows that Uncle is gradually preparing to remove him from his place at the trough and then kindly allow him to ‘retire for health reasons’. Don’t expect him to be a part of Uncle’s glorious thousand year junta currently scheduled to be enshrined next year.

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

has been dismissed from the head adviser for an anti-corruption committee.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been investigating the case, but following repeated delays it has so far failed to rule on whether Prawit’s possession of the watches breached any laws.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prawit’s role on the committee – while being scrutinised over the watches – had previously been red-flagged by the head of a sub-panel under the anti-corruption committee, Tortrakul Yomnak.

And there you have it. Thailand's current government in a micro chasm.

Anywhere else, this situation would be laughed out of parliament or the courts.

The boss of a (corruption) committee investigating himself.

It really is so pathetically sad, it's hilarious.

We just tried to] reduce his workload. 

 

Or reduce the "headlines" ?

3 hours ago, rkidlad said:

But isn’t this a huge loss of face for Prawit? What will this mean going forward? 

 

I still laugh at his excuse that he borrowed the watches from a dead friend. Seven year olds could do better than that. Absolutely ridiculous and even more ridiculous that most of the public seemingly don’t care. 

It will mean a reduced work load for the same money...………….he'll have more time for shopping for expensive watches for his collection.

3 hours ago, rkidlad said:

But isn’t this a huge loss of face for Prawit? What will this mean going forward? 

 

I still laugh at his excuse that he borrowed the watches from a dead friend. Seven year olds could do better than that. Absolutely ridiculous and even more ridiculous that most of the public seemingly don’t care. 

the excuse given rates as about 1 from 10  when compared to - my dog ate my homework  ...   

Prawit --like putting a fox in-charge of a chicken coop...

5 hours ago, MysteryIsland said:

What would this PM do if he is the next Prime Mister and cannot use these powers to run the country?  It is really easy to be PM when you can make up your own rules.   

He won't be any different....arrogant and self centred.....and section 44 will likely still remain.

article 44 to free up some workload. hmmmm, makes sense... NOT!

3 hours ago, Darcula said:

Here he is taking notes at one such meeting.