THAI airways corruption: Former chairman given 2 years jail over not paying excess baggage on Kobe beef and fruit

[webfact]

THAI airways corruption: Former chairman given 2 years jail over not paying excess baggage on Kobe beef and fruit

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

The former chairman of the board of the state airline THAI airways has been ordered jailed for two years. 

 

Naew Na called Wallop Phukkanasut "Mr Big" at the bankrupt state carrier.

 

A case was brought against him by the National Anti Counter Corruption Commission after he was reported by the airline following the setting up of an investigative committee.

 

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases read a ruling yesterday saying the case was proven against him. 

 

He was given two years that was not suspended under Article 11 of a 1959 law related to corruption by employees of state enterprises. 

 

The court had heard that Wallop was returning to Thailand on THAI from Narita after a trip to Japan with his wife.

 

He had more than 300 kilos of Kobe beef and fruit over his allowance but did not pay excess weight charges.

 

It was proven that Wallop, a former chairman of the board of the airline, had abused his authority in not paying. 

 

Source: Naew Na

 

 

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[richard_smith237]

300 kilos of Beef and Fruit !!!!  - thats some diet... I wonder if he had a restaurant or was selling it on (or giving) it to friends etc... quite possibly it was a regular thing (I digress) - I know (used to know) many flight attendants who filled up their suit cases with goodies to sell in Thailand (designer handbags, watches, perfumes etc) many had their own websites (purchase to order etc) - brining in ‘goodies’ was a common method of supplementing a salary. 

 

Two  years in prison for not paying excess baggage is astonishing - something is amiss and of course it is. The headline is misleading (as always). He was not sentenced to two years in prison for not paying excess baggage, he was sentenced to two years in prison for being proven guilty of corruption. 

[RotBenz8888]

Seems like the "Do you know who I am" didn't work... 

[ThailandRyan]

For FS 300kg's of Kobe beef.  That's a load of meat and fruit.  That could feed my entire family for awhile.  True Kobe beef is not cheap, but then i hope it was frozen, and had dry ice on it.  Several hours in an unrefrigerated hold and in the Thai heat would spoil it fast.  

 

If he had just paid the fees then he would have been home scot free, now he gets to be bubba's bottom boy.

[lujanit]

IIRC he had 43 pieces of excessive baggage.

[ezzra]

Now everytime the jail will serve him beef for launch it will remind him why is he there...

[canopus1969]

Excellent news, now if they could find their way to jail the numpties on domestic flights who have trouble carrying – let alone lifting into the overhead bins – their baggage life would be even better

[ThailandRyan]

18 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

Excellent news, now if they could find their way to jail the numpties on domestic flights who have trouble carrying – let alone lifting into the overhead bins – their baggage life would be even better

Best would be for them to actually check the carryon baggage like they do in the Philippines.  If it is over the weight and size you must check the bag or reduce the weight of the bag if its the right dimensions. 

[klauskunkel]

I'm going out on a limb her, guessing that this august personage is neither a ACM, nor GEN.

 

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

National Anti Counter Corruption Commission

Hah, finally they let slip the truth! 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

300 kilos of Beef and Fruit !!!!  - thats some diet...

Non carb diet, or they didn't catch the potato, rice and bread shipment !

[Katipo]

I am sure there is more to this story than unpaid duty on an excess of food stuffs.

[colinneil]

Well they have finally got round to jailing one of the hi-so do you know who i am brigade.

Keep going there are thousands more at it.

[mark131v]

Just now, colinneil said:

Well they have finally got round to jailing one of the hi-so do you know who i am brigade.

Keep going there are thousands more at it.

 

Not possible mate they need to build a load more jails if they're to house all of the corrupt...

[Susco]

I have such a feeling that the convict was from the wrong political party

[Misterwhisper]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He had more than 300 kilos of Kobe beef and fruit over his allowance but did not pay excess weight charges.

Not to mention that it is illegal to import animal products into Thailand without a proper permit.

Why was the beef not confiscated by customs agents and destroyed on entry as per standard practice?

[PETERTHEEATER]

35 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Not to mention that it is illegal to import animal products into Thailand without a proper permit.

Why was the beef not confiscated by customs agents and destroyed on entry as per standard practice?

I think it was confiscated, grilled medium rare and disposed of by an enthusiastic team of Customs officials working through the night ......

[fruitman]

1 hour ago, Katipo said:

I am sure there is more to this story than unpaid duty on an excess of food stuffs.

Kobe beef from 10.000 baht a kg....300 kg....Japan also has melons/mango's from 4-5000 baht a piece...

 

I bet he sells the beef to a shop in BKK....

[Wavel]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Now everytime the jail will serve him beef for launch it will remind him why is he there...

The Beef isn't a rocket, he might even get it for lunch.

 

[SomchaiCNX]

What about the custom department who let him pass with all this extra luggage and illegal import of beef? Are they in jail as well or did they appear before the judge? What about the police guy with his pistol?

[sammieuk1]

When I had my spat with Thai Airways over excess baggage and they barred and blacklisted me over their gouging £35 per kilo I can now see why he didn't want to pay  ????

[ronaldo0]

And here is me worrying about 5kg overweight at check in ! ????????????

[Aussiepeter]

Kind of makes you wonder who he upset ? When a certain ex-PM who speaks really good Chinese exited LOS using the now failed national carrier rather hurriedly some years back, he was reported as having 27 heavy suitcases. One can only guess just what was in them. I wonder if he paid the excess baggage fee ? 

[Peterphuket]

Thai airways....it's a big corrupt mess, still waiting for my money back, sinds March.

[djayz]

Two years banged up because he was too tight to pay the excess baggage fee. With his kind of income, that just don't make sense. 

I can't help but feel that this is just a drop in the ocean. 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

Well they have finally got round to jailing one of the hi-so do you know who i am brigade.

Keep going there are thousands more at it.

 

My guess is he’s yet to spend a night jail.... I wonder if he actually does spend any time behind bars at all. 

 

 

[KhunFred]

Thailand......where the punishment ALWAYS fits the crime. ????

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Now everytime the jail will serve him beef for launch it will remind him why is he there...

Now he will get a pork injection every day... how humiliating it is to drop from Kobe beef.

[trainman34014]

He won't be there long; he will become 'very ill' and be released on compassionate grounds !

[DJ54]

Kobe steak must be $500+ a kilo...  looks like someone wanted 

to make an example to others....