Thaksin Accused of Using Money to Secure Power and Privilege

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Picture courtesy: Thai Rath

 

The political landscape in Thailand is abuzz as former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faces accusations of leveraging his wealth to secure power and privilege since his return from self-imposed exile.

 

A joint petition has been filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) by a coalition of former Red and Yellow Shirt activists, urging an investigation into potential misconduct by high-ranking government officials.

 

The core of the allegation focuses on Thaksin's controversial return to Thailand last year, following which he allegedly bypassed the country's legal and judicial norms.

 

Since then, the billionaire, who is also the father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been accused of manipulating the system to avoid serving a curtailed one-year prison sentence.

 

Instead of serving time in Bangkok Remand Prison, Thaksin reportedly spent six months at Police Hospital, claiming critical health conditions—an assertion shrouded in secrecy and scepticism.

Among those targeted by the allegations are several senior officials, including Justice Minister Thavee Sodsong, Undersecretary for Justice Pongsawat Neelayothin, Corrections Department Director-General Sahakarn Petchnarin, and Police Hospital Chief Doctor, Pol. Lt. Gen. Thavisilp Vechavitharn.

 

The petitioners argue these officials abused their positions to grant undue privileges to Thaksin—an action they assert amounts to abuse of power and misconduct.

 

The group of petitioners includes notable figures such as former Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, ex-Yellow Shirt leader and former senator Kaewsan Atibodhi, and Thai Pakdee chair Warong Dechgitvigrom.

 

Their appeal for investigation comes hot on the heels of the NACC's decision to launch an ad hoc committee dedicated to examining these allegations of power abuse and misconduct linked to Thaksin's case.

 

A prior effort by a fact-finding committee from the NACC found it challenging to gather concrete medical evidence to substantiate Thaksin's health claims during his stay at Police Hospital.

 

The lack of significant medical records following his release on parole earlier this year only adds to the intrigue and suspicion surrounding his case.

 

As the investigation unfolds, the specter of billions of Thai Baht looms over these accusations, drawing public and governmental scrutiny. The developing events are set to draw the nation and its observers' attention, raising questions about the influence of wealth and power within Thailand's complex political landscape, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2024-12-19

 

 

[quake]

Nah can't be true.