US Couple Arrested In Bangkok Film Festival Graft Probe

[Tony Clifton]

He said the DSI however did not have the authority to probe the case because the suspects who allegedly accepted bribe and involved in the bidding collusion were high-ranking officials.

Really? Seems someone at the DSI should be put under investigation as well.

Sickening.

[PadThaiGuy]

Friends of mine tried to do business with the TAT.

No bribes= no coperation.

All Thai Ministries are run by crooks that use the entity for personal gain.

[sriracha john]

SRJ, did you read that last sentence? LOL 55555

Indeed I did...

He said the DSI however did not have the authority to probe the case because the suspects who allegedly accepted bribe and involved in the bidding collusion were high-ranking officials.

which is why I suggested that if DSI doesn't have enough oomph to bust Juthamas... then turn it over to NCCC or the Supreme Court or some other "big dog" entity that can arrest her and prosecute her (based on the clear-cut and voluminous amount of evidence against the Thaksin-appointed TAT Governor).

I see they decided to go with my first suggestion.....

Ex-TAT Governor faces prosecution

DSI finds grounds to allegations of bribery

The Department of Special Investigation has confirmed that there are grounds for prosecution against a former Governor of the TAT over allegations of bribery and collusion involving the Bangkok Film Festival. The DSI has submitted the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to take legal action against the official, said Col Piyawat Kingket, the Chief of the DSI's Special Crime Division. He said investigators had checked documents and evidence from the TAT and interviewed those involved, and found that high-ranking officials had been implicated in the bribery scandal. The case was investigated by the DSI after a complaint was filed against an American couple accused by US authorities of conspiring to pay bribes of more than 53.4 million baht to a former TAT Governor to obtain a contract to run the film festival and other deals worth more than 314 million baht. The money was transferred to bank accounts belonging to the Governor's daughter. Piyawat said that during the DSI investigation the department did not call Juthamas or her daughter to testify, but will leave the NCCC to set up a sub-committee to question them. DSI investigators interviewed more than 10 TAT staff involved in the bidding for the Bangkok Film Festival and went over the FBI's investigation documents. Piyawat said from the evidence received it was credible there was wrongdoing involved in the bidding process. However, since the case involves a state official, it must be forwarded to the NCCC for

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/18Mar2008_news11.php

[Andiamo]

He said the DSI however did not have the authority to probe the case because the suspects who allegedly accepted bribe and involved in the bidding collusion were high-ranking officials.

The previous TAT slogan sums it up precisely, "Amazing Thailand"...............

Or should that be. "Unbelievable Thailand" said in a Victor Meldrew voice!

[PadThaiGuy]

SRJ, did you read that last sentence? LOL 55555

Indeed I did...

He said the DSI however did not have the authority to probe the case because the suspects who allegedly accepted bribe and involved in the bidding collusion were high-ranking officials.

which is why I suggested that if DSI doesn't have enough oomph to bust Juthamas... then turn it over to NCCC or the Supreme Court or some other "big dog" entity that can arrest her and prosecute her (based on the clear-cut and voluminous amount of evidence against the Thaksin-appointed TAT Governor).

I see they decided to go with my first suggestion.....

Ex-TAT Governor faces prosecution

DSI finds grounds to allegations of bribery

The Department of Special Investigation has confirmed that there are grounds for prosecution against a former Governor of the TAT over allegations of bribery and collusion involving the Bangkok Film Festival. The DSI has submitted the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to take legal action against the official, said Col Piyawat Kingket, the Chief of the DSI's Special Crime Division. He said investigators had checked documents and evidence from the TAT and interviewed those involved, and found that high-ranking officials had been implicated in the bribery scandal. The case was investigated by the DSI after a complaint was filed against an American couple accused by US authorities of conspiring to pay bribes of more than 53.4 million baht to a former TAT Governor to obtain a contract to run the film festival and other deals worth more than 314 million baht. The money was transferred to bank accounts belonging to the Governor's daughter. Piyawat said that during the DSI investigation the department did not call Juthamas or her daughter to testify, but will leave the NCCC to set up a sub-committee to question them. DSI investigators interviewed more than 10 TAT staff involved in the bidding for the Bangkok Film Festival and went over the FBI's investigation documents. Piyawat said from the evidence received it was credible there was wrongdoing involved in the bidding process. However, since the case involves a state official, it must be forwarded to the NCCC for

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/18Mar2008_news11.php

The "former TAT Govoner".

They are afraid to mention her name?

I guess with all that money she stole, she can fix tha case and intimidate almost anybody.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... the festival's kept alive, but with its budget dramatically cut..

Budget slashed at Bangkok Film Festival

The Bangkok Film Festival, which for a time seemed destined to become the Cannes festival of Asia, will apparently become a shadow of its former self.

The Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and the Thai Directors' Association announced that they plan to keep the festival alive this year with an event to take place during the week of Sept. 23-30 that has a budget of just $750,000.

The last Bangkok Film Festival held before the 2006 coup had a budget of $5 million, while last year's, a drastically scaled back version presented by Thailand's Tourism Authority, was budgeted at $2 million.

- contactmusic.com : 16/06/2008

[ratcatcher]

UPDATE... the festival's kept alive, but with its budget dramatically cut..

Budget slashed at Bangkok Film Festival

The Bangkok Film Festival, which for a time seemed destined to become the Cannes festival of Asia, will apparently become a shadow of its former self.

The Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and the Thai Directors' Association announced that they plan to keep the festival alive this year with an event to take place during the week of Sept. 23-30 that has a budget of just $750,000.

The last Bangkok Film Festival held before the 2006 coup had a budget of $5 million, while last year's, a drastically scaled back version presented by Thailand's Tourism Authority, was budgeted at $2 million.

"- contactmusic.com : 16/06/2008

Update: Full story here:http://www.bangkokpost.com/180708_Realtime/18Jul2008_real002.php

In March, the Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) confirmed that there were grounds for prosecution against Juthamas Siriwan, former governor of the TAT, over her alleged collusion with the US company. The DSI has submitted the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to take legal action, but there has been no recent development.

Former TAT Governor Denies Ever Being TAT Governor

Former TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan threatens to sue anyone who claims she was the TAT Governor"

Well, S.R.J.? Was she? Will she?

Edited July 18, 2008 by ratcatcher

[dumball]

Friends of mine tried to do business with the TAT.

No bribes= no coperation.

All Thai Ministries are run by crooks that use the entity for personal gain.

Only the ministries ????????????

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... the festival's kept alive, but with its budget dramatically cut..

Budget slashed at Bangkok Film Festival

The Bangkok Film Festival, which for a time seemed destined to become the Cannes festival of Asia, will apparently become a shadow of its former self.

The Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and the Thai Directors' Association announced that they plan to keep the festival alive this year with an event to take place during the week of Sept. 23-30 that has a budget of just $750,000.

The last Bangkok Film Festival held before the 2006 coup had a budget of $5 million, while last year's, a drastically scaled back version presented by Thailand's Tourism Authority, was budgeted at $2 million.

"- contactmusic.com : 16/06/2008

Update: Full story here:http://www.bangkokpost.com/180708_Realtime/18Jul2008_real002.php

In March, the Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) confirmed that there were grounds for prosecution against Juthamas Siriwan, former governor of the TAT, over her alleged collusion with the US company. The DSI has submitted the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to take legal action, but there has been no recent development.

Former TAT Governor Denies Ever Being TAT Governor

Former TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan threatens to sue anyone who claims she was the TAT Governor"

Well, S.R.J.? Was she? Will she?

I'm pleading the 5th....

5th Amendment to the Sriracha Municipality Code:

No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

[Arkady]

This case seems to be quite low on the list of priorities for the NCCC and I expect the mystery governor will never have to answer for this crime. For Westerners it seems a no brainer that a case where evidence has been handed over by the FBI which is prosecuting two of its own nationals for the other half of the same crime whould be an open and shut case in Thailand. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work like that. The CTX scanner case is similar in that the US Justice Dept has handed over all its information to Thailand but the Thai public prosecutor, who is himself a defendant in another corruption case involving the Airport Authority of Thailand of which curiously he is or was a director, doesn't see in the Justice Dept documents any meaningful evidence of wrongdoing by anyone in Thailand, even though a cursory glance at the numbers indicates that the taxpayer lost a substantial amount. The Taksin govt managed to shut down the previous NCCC due to malfeasance in giving themselves a pay rise without authorization. This meant that the statute of limitations on a whole raft of corruption cases involving TRT politicians expired long before a new NCCC could be convened. The Samak govt is trying similar tactics to have the NCCC disbanded. The link between the DSI which forwarded the case to the NCCC may be broken by the transfer of its head and all the senior officials who were seen as clean to be replaced by former policemen. It may be harder for the NCCC to pursue the case without cooperation from the DSI which we can assume is no longer available. Meanwhile, Juthamas is free to sue anyone suggesting she is "the governor" which I for one am not suggesting under Thailand's ridiculous, antiquated criminal defamation laws.

[Old Man River]

Friends of mine tried to do business with the TAT.

No bribes= no coperation.

All Thai Ministries are run by crooks that use the entity for personal gain.

And this differs from other countries, how?

[TAWP]

Since the report-button is still inactivated for my account...the post above is a spam-bot.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... a real update this time...

Juthamas with the Bangkok Film Festival (which is the basis for Juthamas Accusation # 1)

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, above, speaks at the launch of the Thailand Elite Card.

Associated Press / 2003 (which is the basis for Juthamas Accusation # 2)

Juthamas (left) with the double-indicted Browns (2nd and 3rd from right)

Juthamas engulfed in Elite Privilege Card scandal

Los Angeles: A former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), who has already been accused of bribery connected with the Bangkok International Film Festival, is now accused in a new scandal relating to the Thailand Elite Card project. Juthamas Siriwan, the TAT Governor from 2002 to 2006, came to Thai authorities attention when US federal authorities accused an American film producer and his wife of paying bribes to a Thai official involved in the annual film festival. Juthamas denied the claim. Gerald Green, 75, and his wife Patricia, 52, were originally indicted in January on federal charges of bribing a former TAT Governor so that they could manage the Bangkok International Film Festival. A new indictment accuses the Greens of paying 61.8 Million Baht in bribes to the TAT official so they would be awarded a variety of lucrative business contracts that brought them 480 Million Baht), the US attorney's office said. The couple have pleaded not guilty to the charges in the original indictment. The Greens are to be arraigned on Oct 14 on the new charges. One of the contracts they received called for their firm to produce an ''Elite Privilege Card'', initiated by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2003, that gave the buyer special privileges in Thailand, such as being escorted through immigration and customs. They also won contracts to design a calendar, a book, and a website. Between 2003 and 2007, the couple allegedly funneled cash to the Thai tourism official, who used the money to influence the bidding process in favor of the company. The new indictment includes charges of bribery, 10 counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, seven money-laundering charges, two allegations of false subscription of tax returns, and others. The charges potentially bring a lengthy total prison sentence, with each money-laundering count alone carrying a maximum of 20 years. Prosecutors are alleging the Greens attempted to cover up their bribery by using different business entities, some with phony addresses and telephone numbers. In the scandal surrounding the film festival, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has submitted the case to the National Counter Corruption Commission to take legal action against the former TAT Governor.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/051008_News/05Oct2008_news16.php

===================================================================

*With latest investigations and indictments, suggest thread title be changed to:

Ex-TAT Governor Faces Accusations Over Elite Card and Bangkok Film Festival Graft

Edited October 5, 2008 by sriracha john

[bob6023]

Thailand is corrupt enough. Get those LA ass----- out of here.

[steveromagnino]

anyone who had any doubt of what was going on in the TRT administration surely can see this.

Well imagine if every single scheme was run like this including the beloved 30b healthcare, fashion city, new airport, etc etc.

Well, instead of imagine if, just say nothing.

every single scheme was run like this.

And there you have it.

A true fact of life.

But ah well, I forgot this guy was the saviour for 17 million poor Issaan people (cue drivel as to why we should love square face).

f&*king crook.

[younghusband]

anyone who had any doubt of what was going on in the TRT administration surely can see this.

Well imagine if every single scheme was run like this including the beloved 30b healthcare, fashion city, new airport, etc etc.

Well, instead of imagine if, just say nothing.

every single scheme was run like this.

And there you have it.

A true fact of life.

But ah well, I forgot this guy was the saviour for 17 million poor Issaan people (cue drivel as to why we should love square face).

f&*king crook.

The Snowball factor (see Orwell's Animal Farm) at work again.Thaksin apparently responsible for shenanigans at the Bangkok Film Festival.Didn't he have something to do with the recent flooding as well?

[steveromagnino]

The Snowball factor (see Orwell's Animal Farm) at work again.Thaksin apparently responsible for shenanigans at the Bangkok Film Festival.Didn't he have something to do with the recent flooding as well?

She was 'his gal' put in power by him to the TAT and then put in power again to create a subsidiary party in case PPP was banned.

She was heavily involved with Thailand Elite Card and they used to meet together regularly around town (I know, I was there more than once) to discuss aspects of tourism and other matters. Most of the contractors for film festival, BKK Fashion City etc were agents or companies that backed TRT; otherwise you weren't allowed to be involved. Skim running at 20-40% alledgedly.

Similar to Chotisak the former AOT head honcho who prior to that was with the SME bank - these people acted effectively as agents for the TRT adminstration to look after TRT interests and to pay off their backers. In the case of SME bank, that meant soft loans to various companies even including restuarants and massage parlours abroad as well as lots and lots of politician trips; I fondly recall unsuccessful NZ restaurant Chili something or other, that required that most of the cabinet and the PM fly first class at one time or another to Auckland to set the entire loan of 400,000 NZD approx up; coincidentally as you probably know at that time several politicians had children studying in NZ and anyway, what a nice place for a holiday, er, work. Good guy, showed his colours, so got the mega payoff to look after the 'interests' at the airport and AOT thereafter.

Thaksin might not have been personally responsible, but he put these people into these positions with promises and access to these payoffs knowing what that their job description would include antics such as this. TRT as a whole are responsible for a scandal in the quality of governance.

I'd be hard pressed to see a more clear example of direct involvement though, he and his son in particular love the entertainment industry as any number of starlets (and in the son's case, perhaps stars but not starlets) can attest. YOu know about How Come right and you know about the father's personal 'encouragement' to allow local media for his son to, having cheated and failed law school, to instead become a 'photographer' showing a singular lack of talent that is on par with the singing talents of Mike Tyson or the boxing talents of a young Paris Hilton.

Just basic truths. You surely don't question any of the above do you; anyone involved with the senior management of Elite card, fashion city or the airport would not raise an eye brow at any of this? (and no doubt, this was the mode of operation for many of his predecessors as well, they just didn't think to set up as many of these pointless schemes due to being operationally total idiots).

Edited October 9, 2008 by steveromagnino

[sriracha john]

Fraud spotlight on Hollywood

Hollywood studios and film producers are set to face increasing scrutiny from anti-fraud officials, as a result of a trial involving incidents in Bangkok that could have repercussions across the entertainment sector.

Gerald Green, an American film producer, and his wife, Patricia, are alleged to have ­violated the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by paying bribes to a Thai tourism official. It is claimed that the alleged bribes were offered to obtain contracts to run an international film festival in Bangkok.

The Green’s trial in Los Angeles, which is entering its second week, is the first FCPA case to involve the entertainment industry. The case suggests that Hollywood has joined the pharmaceuticals and energy industries as a target of anti-fraud enforcers at the US department of justice.

Mr Green produced Rescue Dawn, a Vietnam war drama starring Christian Bale, and ­Salvador, starring James Woods. Mr Green and his wife have pleaded not guilty to bribery charges.

The DoJ declined to comment on the case. But its new interest in Hollywood could become a severe headache for studios and producers that shoot films in international locations.

Cash inducements to local officials are common in overseas shoots and such payments have hitherto been subject to only patchy scrutiny in Hollywood’s notoriously opaque accounting system.

“The reality is the entertainment industry has always been a little loose in its approach to best practice,” said Jonathan Drimmer, a former DoJ lawyer who is now a partner in the anti-corruption group at the Steptoe & Johnson law firm.

The Green’s trial is likely to be followed by more FCPA investigations in Hollywood, he said. “The justice department identifies a practice [in a particular industry] and then suddenly they go across that industry in a lateral manner. They did it with the medical device industry and they did it with oil and gas companies.”

The bulk of the FCPA cases brought in recent years have focused on the energy and mining sectors.

However, the US government has recently expanded its focus to other industries, including healthcare and retail.

In the past six years it has stepped up its anti-corruption work, launching 17 enforcement actions in 2008 compared with three in 2003.

- Financial Times / 2009-08-09

[animatic]

What should be done to Nike is essentially

the death nell for producing films in locations such as Thailand.

No greased palms no productions and it all turns CGI and green screen and animatronics.

While I am for DoJ weeding out corruption and sweatshops, this is the wrong row to hoe.

[sriracha john]

former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Jutamas Siriwan

Film-fest heat turned up on Jutamas

Things are getting hot for Jutamas Siriwan, former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as local and overseas investigations point to her as being a key player in the Bangkok International Film Festival bribery scandal.

Piyawat Kingket, Chief of the Department of Special Investigation's special crimes unit, said yesterday that evidence has been found locally to implicate suspects, including Jutamas, who has consistently and vehemently denied any involvement in allegedly taking kickbacks while she was overseeing the film festival.

The case, which involved bribery and budgets that were within Jutamas's power to approve, has been forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which is expected to make a decision soon on how to proceed, Piyawat said.

The trial of two Hollywood producers accused of trying to bribe their way into running the Bangkok International Film Festival is now underway at the US Federal District Court in Los Angeles, and, for the first time, Jutamas's name has cropped up in the court transcripts.

The local case, however, has not incorporated any accounts from American investigators who questioned producer Gerald Green and his wife Patricia, who stand accused in the US of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the film festival.

Getting the US investigators' interrogation records would be a lengthy bilateral process, Piyawat said.

The FBI, however, did seek cooperation from Thailand when launching its probe of the couple during the Surayud government.

The US indictment, filed in December 2007, claims that Green, the executive producer of the 2006 film, "Rescue Dawn", and his wife conspired to pay a Thai government official more than US$1.7 million (58 Million Baht) to land the contract to run the festival.

The indictment says organising the festival would be worth more than $10 million.

The Financial Times noted that the case against the Greens is the first time that the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been used against the entertainment industry, but it may not be the last.

The US court heard that the accomplices attempted to conceal their bribery by using different business entities, some with dummy addresses and phone numbers, and by making "commission" payments through the foreign bank accounts of intermediaries.

The defence in the US trial is expected to start making its argument in the next few days.

Extra spending by US filmmakers to keep officials overseas happy is reportedly not that unusual. A 2007 Times analysis of the budget of the film "Sahara", for instance, found that $237,386 was spent on "courtesy payments", "gratuities", and "local bribes".

-- The Nation 2009-08-12

[Loaded]

Thai mores see nothing wrong in enriching yourself through your position. It's called gin muang, or eating the country, and was initiated as a standard practice for government employees by Rama 5.

Juthamas has done nothing wrong in the eyes of most Thais. In fact, taking a few million dollars from a couple of farang will probably give her a great deal of face within the Thai elite community.

Remember, you have the wives of prime ministers wearing in public jewelery stolen from Saudi princes, former deputy prime minister and police captain who runs the illegal gambling industry in Bangkok. I don't think scamming a couple of rich farang is going to lead to anything here.

Edited August 12, 2009 by Loaded

[sriracha john]

former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Juthamas Siriwan

Film producers are accused of paying bribes in Thailand

Gerald and Patricia Green deny they paid a Thai official to secure movie festival and other lucrative contracts.

Before film producers Gerald and Patricia Green took over a movie festival in Bangkok, the week-long event struggled to capture Hollywood's attention.

Over the next four years, the Southern California couple transformed the festival into a rising star on the international circuit for screening new films, attracting the likes of Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irons and director Oliver Stone to Thailand.

The success earned the couple a small fortune and drew scrutiny from federal prosecutors who have charged them with bribing Thai officials to run the festival and land lucrative contracts.

In a novel trial scheduled to start Tuesday in U.S. District Court, prosecutors allege the Greens paid bribes so they would be awarded business contracts that brought the couple $14 million. The trial is the first in which entertainment industry figures are charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a federal statute prohibiting corrupt payments to foreign officials for business purposes.

Gerald Green, who produced Stone's "Salvador" and the Christian Bale-led "Rescue Dawn," faces 20 counts. Patricia Green, who produced "Diamonds," a comedy starring Kirk Douglas, Dan Aykroyd and Lauren Bacall, faces 21 counts.

If convicted, they each could receive up to life in prison. They have both pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

The outcome of the trial coupled with recent comments by federal officials could have an effect on how Hollywood studios conduct business in foreign countries. This month, Robert Khuzami, head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division, said the agency would create a unit that would focus on possible foreign corruption violations.

"I think a message is being sent loud and clear that the government is going after violators no matter what industry they are in," said Franceska Schroeder, an attorney in Washington, D.C., who specializes in trade compliance law. "Even if you are in the entertainment industry, you have to be mindful of payments government officials are asking you to make."

Prosecutors contend the Greens paid Juthamas Siriwan, the former Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, about $1.8 million to help secure the Bangkok International Film Festival and tourism-related deals, beginning in 2002.

The payments, often disguised as sales commissions, were transferred into accounts of Juthamas' daughter and a friend or paid in cash to Juthamas directly, according to court documents.

The Greens' lawyers said they never paid to get the contracts.

"They got the contracts because they did good work," said Jerome Mooney, Gerald Green's lawyer. "They entered into consulting agreements with those who had connections with powerful people."

One of the agreements allowed them to sell a "Thai privilege card" giving wealthy foreigners special perks in Thailand such as being escorted through customs and some discounts at hotels and restaurants.

Other contracts were to design calendars, a book and a website. The couple inflated their budgets so Juthamas could be paid off, prosecutors said.

Patricia Green, 54, is accused of making false statements on tax returns and conspiring with her husband to cover up the payments by using different business entities, some with phony addresses and telephone numbers. Once Gerald Green, 77, learned about the federal investigation, he altered company documents, prosecutors allege.

Mooney said the couple had lost several development deals in China, Vietnam and Thailand because of the government's probe.

"It's been stressful and difficult because any time the federal government starts an investigation, it's extremely disruptive and extensive," said Marilyn Bednarski, Patricia Green's lawyer. "It's been a two-year investigation that hasn't turned up any evidence of bribery. The allegations are ridiculous."

- Los Angeles Times / 2009-08-17

[blaze]

From the same article: "However, he (NACC commissioner Vicha Mahakhun) decided not to testify to the court after US prosecutors informed him they were sure that Thailand has a law through which tax evasion charges could be pursued in connection with the bribery case."

Certainly comforting to know that the NACC commissioner, when confused about Thai laws- can rely on foreign courts to instruct him. I mean- isnt a large part of the NACC's job related to tax evasion issues? And the fact that THailand probably has laws to deal with tax evasion was news to him?

Good god...

[slapout]

I doubt the 2 accused of accepting bribes are in custody. Doubt if either will go anywhere near the US. Thailand has seemed to ignore this whole episode up to now, wonder if extradition proceedings will start?

[webfact]

please continue topic here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Charge-Thai-...ef-t331681.html

//CLOSED//