Thai Court Seizes Millions from Corrupt Official Over Unexplained Wealth

[snoop1130]

 

In a significant move targeting corruption, the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3 has ordered the confiscation of assets worth 5.1 million baht from a Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) official. This ruling was announced by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday.

 

The court's decision on 28 March directed the confiscation of funds in two accounts held by Sarot Sutthiwong. According to Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, NACC Secretary-General and spokesperson, the investigation into Sarot's unusual wealth began after substantial evidence suggested his involvement in illicit gain.

 

Sarot, who served as head of the warehouses owned by TSTE Plc from February 2003 to March 2004, could not sufficiently explain the source of his wealth. The NACC's inquiry not only highlighted this discrepancy but also uncovered Sarot's dereliction of duty in inspecting rice stocks under the government's contentious rice-pledging scheme.

 

 

 

 

Niwatchai stated, "If the remaining funds in Sarot’s accounts are insufficient to meet the court's confiscation order, legal authorities have 10 years to track down and seize other assets to enforce the decision."

 

This case marks a crucial step in Thailand's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and hold officials accountable for misconduct.

 

Photo: The Thaiger

 

-- 2024-09-19

 

 

[happysoul]

Good move, keep it going (and aim higher if you feel like it) 😉

 

You also can start looking at hotels and shops with not a single customer and still running fine. Trend looks like it's laundromat now for money laundering (seen a couple open over the lasts months).

 

Fighting coruption will make foreigners happier when paying taxes 😁

[MarkBR]

3 hours ago, happysoul said:

Good move, keep it going (and aim higher if you feel like it) 😉

 

You also can start looking at hotels and shops with not a single customer and still running fine. Trend looks like it's laundromat now for money laundering (seen a couple open over the lasts months).

 

Fighting coruption will make foreigners happier when paying taxes 😁

Will only go for little fish.

 

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Sarot, who served as head of the warehouses owned by TSTE Plc from February 2003 to March 2004, could not sufficiently explain the source of his wealth. The NACC's inquiry not only highlighted this discrepancy but also uncovered Sarot's dereliction of duty in inspecting rice stocks under the government's contentious rice-pledging scheme.

The rice scam was another Thaksin populist scheme... shame it was plundered by greedy middle men.

[jippytum]

Is the confiscated cash fully accounted for or do the investigators share the spoils. 

[Aussie999]

So, there are still those who remain untouchable

[Henryford]

Start with all the Thais driving around in 4 million baht Mercedes.

[ronster]

If they bothered to really look into people's wealth who worked in higher up jobs then it would be like shooting fish in a barrel to find unexplained wealth !

[MarkBR]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

So, there are still those who remain untouchable

The Elite - the system is maintained to keep them almost Untouchable.

[lordgrinz]

"5.1 million baht" is a drop in the bucket, there is an ocean of corruption in Thailand, this is just a little fish, or sacrificial lamb.

[thesetat2013]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Sarot, who served as head of the warehouses owned by TSTE Plc from February 2003 to March 2004, could not sufficiently explain the source of his wealth. The NACC's inquiry not only highlighted this discrepancy but also uncovered Sarot's dereliction of duty in inspecting rice stocks under the government's contentious rice-pledging scheme.

More importantly. Where did the money come from. I am thinking someone whose last name begins with S or T. This is about the 10 year old rice scam that was made during a certain persons tenure as the leader. The same problem where now, they are claiming the 10 year old rice is still good to eat haha.

[shackleton]

Officials money 💰 and corruption seems to be the norm  here in Thailand

Must be many in positions of authority  reaping the benefits and rewards 

Involving corruption 🤑

 

[1duckyboy]

A drop in the ocean.

[black tabby12345]

Unexpected Wealth of the Corrupt Official?

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

do the investigators share the spoils. 

 

Makes a lot of sense if you are here long enough.

[black tabby12345]

Millions seized from Corrupt Official Over Unexplained Wealth.

But Billions remain unquestioned/untouchable.

Standard procedure all too familiar to those who have been here long enough...

 

Edited September 20 by black tabby12345

[scorecard]

19 hours ago, happysoul said:

Good move, keep it going (and aim higher if you feel like it) 😉

 

You also can start looking at hotels and shops with not a single customer and still running fine. Trend looks like it's laundromat now for money laundering (seen a couple open over the lasts months).

 

Fighting coruption will make foreigners happier when paying taxes 😁

One spectacles chain all over LOS keeps opening new stores, very rare to ever see a customer in one of their shops. 

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

One spectacles chain all over LOS keeps opening new stores, very rare to ever see a customer in one of their shops. 

 

   Charging 4000 Baht for spectacles that cost 100 Baht to make  , they don't need many customers 

[tomacht8]

There are many civil servants who make you wonder: How can they afford and own all the magnificent villas, luxury cars, hotels, estates, holiday resorts, gold jewelry, stock packages, expensive private hospitals, first class fight tickets, etc. with their official salaries.

 

You don't need Sherlock Homes to realize that there is unusual wealth there. This is as obvious and easy to see as there is no prostitution in Soi 6 or the Adams apple from a ladyboy.

Edited September 20 by tomacht8

[Dan O]

Yes but why did it take from March until now to hit the news with this story?   When was the confiscation back in March or now? If it was now plenty of time to move the money around. 

[tomacht8]

19 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Will only go for little fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks more like a PR Show for the public.

"Look we are doing something."

It's ridiculous.

Edited September 20 by tomacht8

[dinsdale]

"This case marks a crucial step in Thailand's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and hold officials accountable for misconduct."

Only enemies of the those in power. How about a two pronged approach. Start at the top and work down and at the same time from the bottom up. Somewhere along the line almost all if not all school directors will be done for corruption. Hospital directors. Govt Dept. directors. BIB.  Just 4 of many areas. Top down. Well the very top is untouchable but working down it again would be almost all if not all politicians. Same goes with the generals, judges and the top of the RTP.  Build a new jail and throw them all in. Thing is if you took all the corrupt out of the system there would not be many people left to run the show. Sadly corruption is endemic top to bottom.

Edited September 20 by dinsdale

[tomacht8]

21 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

"This case marks a crucial step in Thailand's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and hold officials accountable for misconduct."

Only enemies of the those in power. How about a two pronged approach. Start at the top and work down and at the same time from the bottom up. Somewhere along the line almost all if not all school directors will be done for corruption. Hospital directors. Govt Dept. directors. BIB.  Just 4 of many areas. Top down. Well the very top is untouchable but working down it again would be almost all if not all politicians. Same goes with the generals, judges and the top of the RTP.  Build a new jail and throw them all in. Thing is if you took all the corrupt out of the system there would not be many people left to run the show. Sadly corruption is endemic top to bottom.

Yes. 5 million baht of corruption money confiscated. That makes big headlines. This is as ridiculous as a chicken letting out a fart in a chicken farm. 

[The Old Bull]

I knew before I finished reading this story that it was similar to all the other cases. They always go after yesterdays men who no longer have any political clout. How about going after those who's hand is in the jar today.

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Charging 4000 Baht for spectacles that cost 100 Baht to make  , they don't need many customers 

Sure, but not a logical / foolproof / sustaining business model.

[john donson]

sure he must have assets outside TH