Former deputy interior minister Vatana returns home after 16 years in hiding

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s fugitive former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame, who fled to Cambodia from a 10-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction 16 years ago, has quietly returned to Thailand after the expiry of the 15-year statute of limitations on the case.

 

It is not known when the veteran former politician actually re-entered Thailand, but he made his first public appearance on Saturday, when he attended a religious ceremony to bless the new home of Sunthorn Pansaengthong, former deputy agriculture minister.

 

Vatana claimed to the media during the ceremony that the “Asavahames” are still a family of politicians in Thailand and have not disappeared from the country.

 

He then voiced support for Sunthorn in the Provincial Administrative Organisation mayoral election in Samut Prakan at the end of this year.

 

The Klong Dan waste water treatment project has beendubbed Thailand’s “mother of corruption” case, which has cost the taxpayer about 23 billion baht. The facility, which is 90% complete, has never been used.

 

The project was approved during the Democrat-led government in 1995 and implemented by the Pollution Control Department.

 

It was plagued by massive corruption, leading to a change inthe location of the project site and a move of the pipeline network from above ground to underground. Construction costs, originally estimated at about 13.6 billion baht, ballooned to 23 billion.

 

The moving of the project, to Bang Bo district in Samut Prakan, was to occupy a 304 hectare plot, which had been bought cheaply from villagers by front companies and sold to Palm Beach Development Company linked to Vatana.

 

It was then resold to another company, Klong Dan Marine and Fishery, before it ended up with the Pollution Control Department, which paid about one million baht per 0.16 hectares, earning those involved in the land deals a whopping profit.

 

Vatana, then science minister, Suwat Liptapallop and then natural resources and environment minister, Yingphan Manasikarn, were involved in the project. Yingphan has already passed away.

 

Vatana was sentenced to a prison term, without suspension, of 10 years in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Police Officer Holders. Suwat was cleared of involvement in the corruption by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-06-10

 

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[brianthainess]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

when he attended a religious ceremony to bless the new home of Sunthorn Pansaengthong, former deputy agriculture minister.

Birds of a feather, the flour trade must be doing well...

[mfd101]

Fidel would have known what to do.

[Tropicalevo]

The BP states that he has not returned. (According to someone close to his family.)

Just fake news?

[Gottfrid]

Oh, nevermind! Welcome back. all is forgotten and forgiven.

[sammieuk1]

Land of returning fleeing crims who have served their time poolside 🤔

[ezzra]

At least he didn't had to go the Thaksin way and trick his way in, wonder what was his first Thai meal after returning home?...

[Geoffggi]

Gathering of the Clan

[ChrisY1]

And now??...Well, he a national hero....front page news....a slimy ex politician, who will likely get his old job back!

[Wiggy]

It was all a misunderstanding. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s fugitive former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame, who fled to Cambodia from a 10-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction 16 years ago, has quietly returned to Thailand after the expiry of the 15-year statute of limitations on the case.

Another dinosaur emerges and not an archaeologist in sight.

[freedomnow]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

At least he didn't had to go the Thaksin way and trick his way in, wonder what was his first Thai meal after returning home?...

A soapy jacuzzi with three 20-year-olds.

[Purdey]

I don't suppose they can find a new case against him, something current?

[billd766]

8 minutes ago, Purdey said:

I don't suppose they can find a new case against him, something current?

Lavrentiy Beria is the man you need.

 

One of his supposed statements was,

 

"show me the man, and I'll show you the crime"

[klauskunkel]

Can't wait to fund all those politicians wit my tax payments next year...

[cncltd1973]

with plenty of money still to spend

[stoner]

9 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Oh, nevermind! Welcome back. all is forgotten and forgiven.

 

i know right. i see a nice kushy position in his future. 

[Gottfrid]

13 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

i know right. i see a nice kushy position in his future. 

Oh Yeah! He will not be shy. He will go for PM of course. Luckily for him, they not demand experience and knowledge for that position in Thailand.

[Thingamabob]

Theoretically living abroad, but actually not.

[john donson]

was he stripped of every baht and property when he fled? guess not...

 

when does ferrari boy come back ?

[cowellandrew]

The Klong Dan waste water treatment project has beendubbed Thailand’s “mother of corruption” case, which has cost the taxpayer about 23 billion baht. The facility, which is 90% complete, has never been used.

 

ah!

[phil2407]

Is Thailand the only country that has Statute of Limitations for a crime? 

[Dcheech]

10 hours ago, john donson said:

when does ferrari boy come back ?

Speaking of Ferraris, Joe Ferrari is still here, still in country. However all news about him has stopped. Funny how that happens. You wonder if he is serving any jail time at all. Perhaps he hasn't been sentenced yet ... or out on bail   

[Xonax]

It always amazes me, how a prison sentence can expire, for a convicted felon, if he just flees the country for a number of years. The prison sentence should be waiting indefinitely 

 

[watchcat]

On 6/10/2024 at 12:42 AM, webfact said:

Vatana claimed to the media during the ceremony that the “Asavahames” are still a family of politicians in Thailand and have not disappeared from the country.

 

No, they are not as coward as you or thaksin .

[SABloke]

6 hours ago, phil2407 said:

Is Thailand the only country that has Statute of Limitations for a crime? 

 

No, but it does seem odd that once you are convicted of a crime, there is then a statue of limitations of serving the time. I think some things have been lost in translation in this article.