The rise and fall of Saksayam Chidchob, Thailand’s first COVID-positive Cabinet minister

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

Saksayam Chidchob was previously best known as the “nominee” of his older brother, veteran politician Newin. However, last week he landed himself in trouble by becoming the first Cabinet member and highest-ranking government official to test positive for COVID-19.

 

News of his infection sparked public anger amid strong rumours he contracted the virus at a nightspot in Bangkok’s upmarket Thong Lor area. Thong Lor’s nightlife is the epicentre of Thailand’s third wave of COVID-19.

 

His decision to hold back details of his timeline also attracted much public criticism. The missing details were filled in by a Public Health Ministry official in his political stronghold of Buri Ram, but further changes and clarifications to his timeline only fuelled public doubt.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-saksayam-chidchob-thailands-first-covid-positive-cabinet-minister/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-04-13

 

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[ThailandRyan]

The man has done himself no favors by acting like he has things to hide, but wait isn't that the MO of the Government here, Watches, Land, gifts....need I say anything more?  However, Thailand isn't the only place with a crooked government, it's just the place I live and call home now, so that's why I am so vocal on the subject.  To be transparent I fear would expose all his dirty little secrets.

[rabas]

Hope the fun was worth it, as they say.

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, rabas said:

Hope the fun was worth it, as they say.

Exactly, I think the saying is :

"Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” is a rhyming criminal justice expression. 

[internationalism]

Krystal Club is called the Government House 2, because so many ministers, civil servants, top police and military were socialising there. 

his fault he went to public hospital in buriram, instead heading to clinic for the officials and parliamentarians in bangkok. Probably he was already too sick, to make this journey. He tried to hide in his home town, away from his boss and from mass media. His associated doctor lied about his timeline and condition in order to protect him.

 

The other many compromised and positive officials allowed to stay at home quarantine, probably with army/police doctors visiting them daily. That instead of going into an ASQ and risking being exposed by media and social media.

There certainly would be more names and heads rolling.

If virologists estimates come true, there would be very many of them.

So far all government, ministries, agencies, even army departments, are in home work mode till 21.4, some already made it longer. Lets see, how many will be absent from the public. How many will end in ICU and kick bucket - the great majority of them are dinosaurs. Apparently the first dose of vax did not cover them properly, as they have thought.

 

Because of the friction and infighting for new posts between democrats and bumjaitai the coalition might collapse, so clusterf.uck, as some journalist promptly named the whole scandal

Edited April 13, 2021 by internationalism

[PatOngo]

45 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Exactly, I think the saying is :

"Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” is a rhyming criminal justice expression. 

Not sure what the time is for contracting Covid 19 but I'm sure there's loss of face involved somewhere!

[Pattaya Spotter]

The family name is all one needs to know...'nuff said.

[PatOngo]

6 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

The family name is all one needs to know...'nuff said.

Immunity!

[Pattaya Spotter]

2 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Immunity!

It's much deeper than anything to do with the virus...it's the family name is all I'll say ????

[klauskunkel]

from the article:

Quote

Buri Ram’s public health chief insisted on Friday that the minister had picked up the virus from a personal aide, who allegedly hung out at two nightspots in the area.

those personal aides do come in handy

[ukrules]

I'm sure he will be just fine in a week or two, you can hardly blame those who catch a virus when there's supposedly so little of it going around.

 

Once an outbreak is established then people should take measures to avoid infection, but avoiding infection through activity changes before an outbreak is detected is going to be down to luck.

 

I was our drinking beers in Hua Hin at the time of the outbreak in the Maya bar which is directly linked to the Bangkok outbreak, however I didn't go to the same places as those who were infected - that's down to pure luck and the fact that I like open air bars when I go for a few beers.

 

Had I been a 'discotheque person' then perhaps I wouldn't have been so lucky, 20 years ago I would be in the disco, these days - no chance I'm going to a disco.

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

His decision to hold back details of his timeline also attracted much public criticism. The missing details were filled in by a Public Health Ministry official in his political stronghold of Buri Ram, but further changes and clarifications to his timeline only fuelled public doubt.

Sack him immediately.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Exactly, I think the saying is :

"Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” is a rhyming criminal justice expression. 

Except when you don't have to do the time!!

Crime pays.

[lavender19]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

from the article:

those personal aides do come in handy

Bit like a Red Bull gardener 

[overt2016]

5 minutes ago, lavender19 said:

Bit like a Red Bull gardener 

I thought the butler did it!!

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

from the article:

those personal aides do come in handy

I wonder what her name was?

[Golden Triangle]

I really really hope he don't get too sick ( sarcasm ) ????

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Exactly, I think the saying is :

"Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” is a rhyming criminal justice expression. 

 

But he's a chinchob, he's the son a a very famous (old style) ex politician and his brother also and his brother already displayed many times that he thinks he's above the law, and this guy is a senior minister, he's special, he's entitled. 

 

Perhaps the long deliberations were needed before they could move two very senior cops now moved to office job weren't related to the ministers and politicians now named?

[DLock]

What is his actual crime?

 

Was there a lockdown or Ministerial ban on visiting Krystal club?

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, DLock said:

What is his actual crime?

 

Was there a lockdown or Ministerial ban on visiting Krystal club?

He lied about being infected and tried to hide the fact.  That is punishable by arrest and a fine as the husband and wife who went to Nakon Si Thamarat after knowing they were exposed and possibly infected, but still traveled before being found and tested, have found out.

[DLock]

25 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

He lied about being infected and tried to hide the fact.  That is punishable by arrest and a fine as the husband and wife who went to Nakon Si Thamarat after knowing they were exposed and possibly infected, but still traveled before being found and tested, have found out.

 

Ah I see.

 

I guess he had Ministerial privilege as anyone testing positive must be admitted to hospital. Somehow he  missed that step?

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

Ah I see.

 

I guess he had Ministerial privilege as anyone testing positive must be admitted to hospital. Somehow he  missed that step?

Exactly, the current double standard.  They who are privileged are special and don't need to follow the rules set for all others.

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, DLock said:

What is his actual crime?

 

Was there a lockdown or Ministerial ban on visiting Krystal club?

It's a convenience of the finger pointing prehistoric obscurantists.

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

He lied about being infected and tried to hide the fact.  That is punishable by arrest and a fine as the husband and wife who went to Nakon Si Thamarat after knowing they were exposed and possibly infected, but still traveled before being found and tested, have found out.

 

Careful what you wish for, you may just get it.

 

I could see the infected being arrested after testing positive in certain circumstances.

 

If someone asked me to disclose everything I've done and where I've been I'd tell them to go <deleted> themselves, especially if I was a government minister.

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

Careful what you wish for, you may just get it.

 

I could see the infected being arrested after testing positive in certain circumstances.

 

If someone asked me to disclose everything I've done and where I've been I'd tell them to go <deleted> themselves, especially if I was a government minister.

So your saying it is ok for some to lie but others to not lie. Hmm. Double standards your ok with. Good to know.

[ukrules]

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So your saying it is ok for some to lie but others to not lie. Hmm. Double standards your ok with. Good to know.

Quite the opposite, what's good enough for the minister is good for me and everyone else.

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, ukrules said:

Quite the opposite, what's good enough for the minister is good for me and everyone else.

So no harm no foul, even when it breaks a law.

[SomchaiCNX]

21 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Exactly, I think the saying is :

"Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” is a rhyming criminal justice expression. 

Speaking of crime, is his older sibling still hiding in Cambodia after he killed a fellow MP from another party (mid 90 ties). That family tree is involved in a lot dark activities, the list is so long that I can't mention them all. In a normal country they would be in jail, in THailand they get a job in Parliament. We have a couple families like this. Yes, I know Thailand is not the only country with the same problem.