Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Pattaya Mayor Over Condo Approval Case

[webfact]

 

On September 5th, reports emerged that a court in Rayong, responsible for corruption cases, had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Itthipol Khunpluem.

 

The former Minister of Culture and ex-Mayor of Pattaya is implicated in a case of improper building permit approvals, reported Daily News.

 

Specifically, he is accused of misconduct under Section 157 of the Criminal Code for granting a construction license on September 10, 2008, to Bali Hai Co., Ltd., for the Waterfront project near Pratumnak Hill in Pattaya, Chonburi, in violation of the law.

 

The prosecutor's office had scheduled Mr. Itthipol for a hearing on September 4th. However, he failed to appear. Given his absence and suspicions of evasion, the court approved an arrest warrant on September 5th.

 

As per Section 157, those found guilty of such misconduct can face 1 to 10 years imprisonment. The statute of limitations for this case is 15 years as per Section 95(2), which means the case will expire on September 10th, 2023.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-06

 

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[smedly]

yeah like that's going knowhere, do you know who i am lol

[champers]

The case expires on less than a week. What is the point?

 

[2baht]

Do you know who my father was? The Godfather of Chonburi! Let's make a deal!

[mikebell]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

On September 5th, reports emerged that a court in Rayong, responsible for corruption cases, had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Itthipol Khunpluem.

So 15 years down the line and five days before the charges expire they issue a warrant!  He need only spend a long weekend in Dubai to avoid this!

[webfact]

Arrest warrant issued for former culture minister Itthiphol Kunplome
 

Former culture minister Itthiphol Kunplome

The Region 2 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome on corruption charges, in connection with the issuance of a permit, while serving as mayor of Pattaya City, for the construction of a condominium.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found Itthiphol at fault, by a 5:1 decision, on July 24th of malfeasance in office under Section 157 of the Criminal Code for illegally issuing a permit for the construction of the Water Front condominium at the foot of Khao Phra Tamnak Hill in the resort town of Pattaya in Chon Buri province. It also ordered him to be removed from the office as culture minister.

 

Four other Pattaya City officials were also found at fault by the NACC. The case has been forwarded to the provincial public prosecutor.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/arrest-warrant-issued-for-former-culture-minister-itthiphol-kunplome/

 

-- Thai PBS 2023-09-06

 

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[Hamus Yaigh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

of former Culture Minister

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

It also ordered him to be removed from the office as culture minister.

How does that work?

[webfact]

Former Pattaya Mayor Faces Arrest Warrant Regarding Waterfront Condo as Case Nears Expiration in Four Days
By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

PHOTO: Bangkok Post

Pattaya — The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has issued an arrest warrant for the former Pattaya mayor, Itthiphol Khunpluem, in relation to his allegedly improper issuance of a building construction permit to construct the controversial Waterfront building near Pattaya Beach.

Itthiphol, who also recently served as the Thai Minister of Culture, has been accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of granting an improper construction permit to Bali Hai Company Limited in 2008, when he was the mayor of Pattaya, for the construction of a high-rise condominium complex called Waterfront Suites & Residence.

 

The controversy around the Waterfront building first arose when residents filed complaints against it for blocking the view of Pattaya Bay from the Pratumnak viewpoint, where the statue of a famous and beloved Father of the Thai Royal Navy points to the ocean, who now points at a condo.

 

The NACC investigated the complaints and requested the construction to be halted. Almost a decade has passed since then, and the project remains in limbo due to numerous legal complications. Consequently, the building continues to stand as a significant eyesore at Bali Hai Pier to this day.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/09/06/former-pattaya-mayor-faces-arrest-warrant-regarding-waterfront-condo-as-case-nears-expiration-in-four-days/

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-06

 

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[smew]

same same from very top to very ...>>>??

[JeffersLos]

A mayor of Pattaya did something dodgy for financial gain?

 

That's very hard to believe. 

[Satcommlee]

He probably should avoid toll roads for a few days.

[Gandtee]

I bet he's done a runner already.????

[TheFishman1]

No surprise. TIT

[newnative]

Total joke.  Of course he didn't appear.  Who would, with the case expiring in a few days?   Don't they have anything better to do with their time, having wasted so much of it that the case is now expiring? 

[thailand49]

7 hours ago, champers said:

The case expires on less than a week. What is the point?

 

I believe he was tip off way back. But this is no surprise. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by thailand49

[redwood1]

What a total Joke.....

 

They had 15, let me repeat.....15 years.....15 X 365= 5,475 days to file these charges and they waited till the last 4 days......

 

Yep I said 4 days....

 

So if I understand this right all he has to do is disapear for 4 days and he gets off scott free....lol

 

So in other words this is a horse and pony show....

[thailand49]

Surprise Surprise just one charge?

The apple don't fall for as r from the tree. 

He's already gone sub leasing Thaksin old crib hanging out with Red Bull runner.

[rtco]

What was that programme that Cilla Black used to host? Oh Yeh ... SURPRISE SURPRISE

[billd766]

8 hours ago, smedly said:

yeah like that's going nowhere, do you know who i am lol

Yes.

 

A prominent member of a crime family from Chon Buri.

[thailand49]

I'm spite of knowing the government appointed his brother to continue the corruption as Mayor. 

[hotchilli]

Corruption rules.

[sammieuk1]

He had the the right job title Minister of Culture as corruption is the culture ????

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

where the statue of a famous and beloved Father of the Thai Royal Navy points to the ocean, who now points at a condo.

Nothing wrong with that, he is pointing at the suspect, it's common practice.

[kingstonkid]

No matter what happens at least maybe they can start to look at removing the eyesore

[Cake Monster]

10 hours ago, smedly said:

yeah like that's going knowhere, do you know who i am lol

And " statute of limitations " runs out after 15 Years for him on Sunday

Convenient

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

He had the the right job title Minister of Culture as corruption is the culture ????

Gained from his experience in growing mould in the Petri dish of Pattaya.????

[Kerryd]

They should be investigating the corruption of whoever decided to wait this long before laying the charges, knowing full well who Khun Itthipol Khunpluem is, as well as his family, including his father who also did a runner after being sent to prison for arranging the murder of a political rival.

It sounds like someone wants to "tidy things up" a bit before the new gov't takes over.

And after all, if a certain someone can spend a day in jail then get a royal pardon dropping his 8 year sentence to just 1 year with the hint that even more reductions could be granted, then something as minor as approving a building permit should be a snap to sweep under a carpet.

[Irish star]

They should make him take it down brick by brick that monstrosity 

[snoop1130]

Wanted Former Pattaya Mayor Reportedly Flees Thailand to Evade Arrest

 

 

Pol. Maj. Gen. Chomchawin Punatananon, the Deputy Commander of the Chonburi Provincial Police, told Thai media today that he has received information, which indicated that Mr. Itthiphol has left Thailand on the morning of August 30th, 2023, after attending a meeting, and has not returned since.

 

He reportedly left the country on Cambodia Airways flight KR0702 and was headed to Phnom Penh.

 

By Tanakorn Panyadee

Caption: PHOTO: Prachachat

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/09/06/update-wanted-former-pattaya-mayor-reportedly-flees-thailand-to-evade-arrest-in-waterfront-condo-case/

 

-- The Pattaya News 2023-09-06

 

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[rbkk]

I heard there's a place to let in Dubai.