Jail For US Pair In Thai Film Fest Graft Scandal

[webfact]

Jail for US pair in Thai film fest graft scandal

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Two Los Angeles movie executives found guilty of paying 1.8 million dollars in bribes to win the right to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival were jailed for six months, justice officials confirmed Thursday.

Gerald Green, 78, and Patricia Green 55, who were convicted last September on charges of conspiracy, violating anti-corruption laws and money-laundering, also face six months home detention and must pay 250,000 restitution.

The couple were found guilt of paying bribes to a former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in exchange for receiving contracts to manage and operate the annual film festival in the Thai capital.

According to an indictment, the Greens paid 1.8 million dollars in bribes to the former tourism chief via bank accounts in Singapore, Jersey and Britain set up in the names of the former governor's daughter and a friend.

Prosecutors said the Greens had received more than 13.5 million dollars in revenue from the contracts. Patricia Green was also found guilty of submitting false tax returns.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-08-13

[Boater]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

[Phuket Stan]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

All in good time

Thai time that is

[march]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

She was charged just a couple of months ago:

NACC informs Juthamas of charge

By THE NATION

Published on June 11, 2010

The anti-graft agency has informed former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan of its corruption charge against her for allegedly accepting bribes from an American couple in return for the rights to organise the Bangkok International Film Festival.

Medhi Krongkaew, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, yesterday said the NACC sent Juthamas its allegation against her late last month after its subcommittee had collected sufficient evidence.

He said the NACC had yet to obtain a written explanation from her in response to its accusation.

United States federal prosecutors have charged Juthamas with conspiracy and eight other counts under a law that prohibits US businesses from paying bribes in foreign countries.

The US federal indictment said the former TAT chief accepted US$1.8 million (Bt58.53 million) in bribes from American film producers Gerald and Patricia Green from 2002-07 so that the couple could run the BIFF and land other tourism-related deals.

Medhi said the NACC had obtained information from US public prosecutors regarding the case.

He added he was confident the evidence gathered by the subcommittee was even more convincing than that collected by the US authorities.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/06/11/business/NACC-informs-Juthamas-of-charge-30131391.html

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The prison-sentenced Greens with Juthamas:

TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan, actor Michael Douglas, Patricia and Gerald Green of Film Festival Management, Inc., and director Joel Schumacher at a private dinner at the 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival.

[South]

That's B50million+, nice work if you can get it.

[animatic]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

All in good time

Thai time that is

By the time Juthamas does time, she'll be Gerald Green's age.

At least things like this will slow down the graft cycle another fraction.

[webfact]

BANGKOK FILM FESTIVAL

The Greens sentenced to 6 months in jail for bribing

Los Angeles movie executives couple were sentenced to six months in jail after finding guilty of paying US$1.8 million in bribes to win the right to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival, US media reported Thursday.

Gerald Green, 78, and Patricia Green 55, who were convicted last September on charges of conspiracy, violating anti-corruption laws and money-laundering, also face six months home detention and must pay US$250,000 restitution.

The couple were found guilt of paying bribes to a former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Juthamas Siriwan, in exchange for receiving contracts to manage and operate the annual film festival in the Thai capital.

The indictment said the Greens paid US$1.8 million in bribes to the former tourism chief's daughter, via bank accounts in Singapore, Jersey and Britain set up in the names of the former governor's daughter and a friend.

After facing decades in jail for bribing more than US$13 million while twhile producing a film festival in Bangkok, married couple Gerald and Patricia Green were sentenced today to just six months.

The fact that Mr. Green is 77 and uses an oxygen tank for emphysema clearly played a role in the judge's relative leniency. The producer of "Rescue Dawn" and his wife were found guilty last year under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of bribery and money laundering after evidence showed they improperly wooed a Thai government official.

The couple was arrested in 2007 after running the Bangkok International Film Festival from 2002-2006.

-- The Nation 2010-08-13

[march]

The couple was arrested in 2007 after running the Bangkok International Film Festival from 2002-2006.

The indictment said the Greens paid US$1.8 million in bribes to the former tourism chief's daughter, via bank accounts in Singapore, Jersey and Britain set up in the names of the former governor's daughter

...and here's the lovely daughter, Jittisopa, along with Thaksin-appointed Mom, spending some of that hard-earned 57,402,000 Baht at Bangkok's Oriental Hotel.

Rapeephan and Korn Dabbaransi and Juthamas Siriwan recently held an engagement ceremony for their children, Jittisopa Siriwan and Kritapone Dabbaransi, at the Oriental Hotel.

2007-09-05

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/nationphoto/showphoto.php?pid=775

Best wishes to the indicted bride.

[skate44]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

No, just those dam foreigners. Corrupting all the lovely Thai people who never take a bribe under normal circumstances.

[spiderleghead]

erm, TIT, so no

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

[OzMick]

If this case is to be used as a deterrent, the least expected would be forfeit of the bribes paid, with interest. There is also the matter of undeclared and untaxed income.

[screamingeagle]

And does anything happen to the former TAT governer ?

Nah. She's way down on the list of corrupt officials they're trying (and mostly failing) to prosecute!!!

[PhootThaiMaiDai]

Sooo... Typical justice. Bad people, companies, officials, profit through illegal action and then pay a fraction of the take and get a slap on the wrist... How will we ever combat crime!?

...oh, that's right, "we" can't. It's the criminals that make up the law in the first place.

[Dakhar]

yea really 6 months, for what prize....

[MegaMik]

I'll do the time of 6 months for 11 mill any day, but not in Thai prison

[ratcatcher]

These are the sort of parasites the Red Shirts are on about. The "corrupt elite". Bless 'em all!

[chantorn]

Need to send in an auditor? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaruvan_Maintaka

[surangw]

I wonder how much a thai  "producer" would have had to pay?

[COXYATCITY]

I'll do the time of 6 months for 11 mill any day, but not in Thai prison

Thai prison can be a good place to be with 11 mill a day,you can get what ever you want when you got that much money.(bed ,tv with true vision so you can watch the footie ,send out for KFC, i have even heard ,ladies can be sent in,etc) if you got 11 baht a day,your f---ed

[tomyummer]

Boy, if this isn't calling the kettle black. This is the Thai way of 'lobbying'. As if the US doesn't have this system? Instead the US military 'loses' 8 billion dollars in Iraq (or was it Afghanistan, oh well, same same) intended for rebuilding? Throw those bastards in jail. At least we got a crappy film festival in return!

So, if in all, Juthamas got $1.8 million of the 13+ million dollars, the whole project was most likely tendered at almost $45 mill. Let's see....project $45 million.....30% for total tea money for ruling party at $13+ million.....governor at 4% or $1.8 million....CHECK! Well done.

[Bagwan]

These are the sort of parasites the Red Shirts are on about. The "corrupt elite". Bless 'em all!

This parasite was firmly in the Thaksin camp. He appointed her. He got a share of the profits or it was a favour returned?. Wasn't she also the darling of the Red Shirt political wing until she resigned when it was clear that her hands had been in the till?

[overhaul38]

Boy, if this isn't calling the kettle black. This is the Thai way of 'lobbying'. As if the US doesn't have this system? Instead the US military 'loses' 8 billion dollars in Iraq (or was it Afghanistan, oh well, same same) intended for rebuilding? Throw those bastards in jail. At least we got a crappy film festival in return!

So, if in all, Juthamas got $1.8 million of the 13+ million dollars, the whole project was most likely tendered at almost $45 mill. Let's see....project $45 million.....30% for total tea money for ruling party at $13+ million.....governor at 4% or $1.8 million....CHECK! Well done.

The U.S. does have corruption but the difference is they go to jail there (ask Bernie Madoff).

The conviction rate for corruption in Thailand would indicate that the country is corruption free.

[webfact]

UPDATE

BRIBES

Juthamas mum on charges

By The Nation

While US couple have been sentenced for bribing ex-TAT chief, Thai system plods along at snail's pace

Thai authorities reacted awkwardly yesterday after reports that the US film-making couple convicted of bribing former tourism chief Juthamas Siriwan have been sentenced to six months in jail in their homeland, which has brought into the spotlight Thailand's snail-paced legal action against her.

Gerald Green, 78, and Patricia Green, 55, who were convicted last September on charges of conspiracy, violating anti-corruption laws and money-laundering, also face six months' home detention and must pay US$250,000 (Bt8 million) restitution.

The US punishment flies in the face of the Thai justice system, which has not even formally charged Juthamas with accepting the couple's $1.8 million bribes when the Americans sought to organise the Bangkok Film Festival during the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission disclosed yesterday that it had only sent Juthamas details of the charges against her less than two weeks ago. The normal NACC process requires that Juthamas respond to the charges before it decides whether to seek formally to prosecute her.

She has not surfaced to defend herself with the NACC, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday admitted that it did not know her whereabouts, or even whether she was still in Thailand.

Her pending case in Thailand is understood to be part of the reason the United States, where she was indicted along with the Greens, has not made any known attempt to seek her extradition. If the United States pushes for her extradition, Thai prosecutors and the Foreign Ministry will play a major role in deciding whether she will be only the second Thai to be sent there to face legal proceedings.

"We haven't received any extradition request from the United States," said Thani Thongpakdi, the Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman.

The Foreign Ministry thus remains in a more comfortable situation than the NACC and the DSI.

The DSI was the first agency to launch the investigation, but as the case involved alleged government corruption, it was later handed over to the NACC. It has long been established that alleged irregularities plaguing the Bangkok Film Festival while she was in charge of the Tourism Authority of Thailand involved matters that were under her direct powers.

"We have received all necessary information in the case, which only requires her response to proceed," said Methi Krongkaew, head of the NACC subcommittee investigating the scandal. "We sent her a notification of the charges on July 31 but she has never come to us to defend herself."

Methi was part of a Thai delegation that visited the United States to get information from the US Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and relevant courts.

The US couple were found guilty of bribing Juthamas for contracts to manage and operate the annual film festival in Bangkok. The US indictment said the Greens paid $1.8 million in bribes to the former Thai tourism chief's daughter, via bank accounts in Singapore, New Jersey and Britain set up in the names of the former governor's daughter and a friend.

The couple are expected to get heavier punishment. It was reported that the fact Gerald Green is 77 and uses an oxygen tank for emphysema clearly played a role in the judge's relative leniency. The producer of "Rescue Dawn" and his wife were last year found guilty of bribery and money-laundering under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

They were arrested in 2007 after running the Bangkok International Film Festival from 2002 to 2006.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdit admitted yesterday that he didn't know whether Juthamas and her daughter were still in Thailand.

"After we handed over the case to the NACC, we have no jurisdiction over the investigation. Now we can't tell if she and her daughter remain in Thailand or they have left the country," he said.

This year's Bangkok International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from November 19-29.

-- The Nation 2010-08-14

[otherstuff1957]

DSI chief Tarit Pengdit admitted yesterday that he didn't know whether Juthamas and her daughter were still in Thailand.

"After we handed over the case to the NACC, we have no jurisdiction over the investigation. Now we can't tell if she and her daughter remain in Thailand or they have left the country," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-14

I hear that the weather in Montenegro is very nice this time or year.

[bendejo]

Uh-oh. Does this mean that paying off the BiB who stops you while driving puts you in the same category as these two?

Closed-circuit television footage as evidence, etc?

They started this a few years back when they came out with "if, while in a foreign country, you violate the laws of your home country, you can be charged with the crime when you return home." It was initially used for going after pervs, and presented in a way that if you opposed it some law-and-order type would rabidly accuse you of being such a predator.

These people were just doing business the way it is usually conducted in this part of the world, so doesn't this enforcement make it racist, disrespectful of other cultures?

The way to make it legal so the likes of the US would find it acceptable is to set up 'charitable trusts,' or 'political action committees' (like they do in DC) to which donations are made, smiles and handshakes all around.

[LomSak27]

United States federal prosecutors have charged Juthamas with conspiracy and eight other counts under a law that prohibits US businesses from paying bribes in foreign countries. The US federal indictment said the former TAT chief accepted US$1.8 million (Bt58.53 million) in bribes from American film producers Gerald and Patricia Green from 2002-07 so that the couple could run the BIFF and land other tourism-related deals. Medhi said the NACC had obtained information from US public prosecutors regarding the case.

He added he was confident the evidence gathered by the subcommittee was even more convincing than that collected by the US authorities.

All of us that were in suspense, can rest easier - this means that NO, Thailand will not send J back to faces charges. They will prosecute themselves

And they talk about extraditing Thaksin

[slapout]

The basis for the laws which are being enforced by several countries, including the USA, have been in place for a couple decades. If memory serves political contributions were approached during the same time frame. The people who were supporters of these laws were attempting to put everyone on a equal playing field. (maybe this is naive thinking) The relative recent, home and away offenses for pervs, etc is a more recent enactment of enforcement than the present topic/offense.

The ease of tracking those responsible, for money laundering, human trafficking, drug trafficking, bribery, etc, has increased due to improved technology. Its a matter of cleaning up your own backyard before you point out the neighbors eyesore.

[slapout]

The basis for the laws which are being enforced by several countries, including the USA, have been in place for a couple decades. If memory serves political contributions were approached during the same time frame. The people who were supporters of these laws were attempting to put everyone on a equal playing field. (maybe this is naive thinking) The relative recent, home and away offenses for pervs, etc is a more recent enactment of enforcement than the present topic/offense.

The ease of tracking those responsible, for money laundering, human trafficking, drug trafficking, bribery, etc, has increased due to improved technology. Its a matter of cleaning up your own backyard before you point out the neighbors eyesore.

[AZBill]

Boy, if this isn't calling the kettle black. This is the Thai way of 'lobbying'. As if the US doesn't have this system? Instead the US military 'loses' 8 billion dollars in Iraq (or was it Afghanistan, oh well, same same) intended for rebuilding? Throw those bastards in jail. At least we got a crappy film festival in return!

So, if in all, Juthamas got $1.8 million of the 13+ million dollars, the whole project was most likely tendered at almost $45 mill. Let's see....project $45 million.....30% for total tea money for ruling party at $13+ million.....governor at 4% or $1.8 million....CHECK! Well done.

The U.S. does have corruption but the difference is they go to jail there (ask Bernie Madoff).

The conviction rate for corruption in Thailand would indicate that the country is corruption free.

Madoff was a private citizen. The US is very good at persecuting and prosecuting private citizens. The US is no better that Thailand with its politically corrupt. Just look at the recent case of that slime ball Charlie Rangell. This piece of dirt is responsible for writing the US tax code but blatantly evaded income tax for years claiming he just didn't know he is suppose to declare all his income from "whatever source derived" as it was written by his own committee, but nothing will happen to him even after 13 ethics charges were filed against him by his own peers in Congress. Obama's Treasury Secretary and half his cabinet are tax evaders, but nothing! The US only prosecutes crooked politicians when it is politically expediant for the more powerful to do so. It has nothing to do with our justice being any better that Thai justice when it comes to those in power. As it was said in one of "The Godfather" movies - crime and politics are the same thing! We are no better in the US. Our politicians are just a bunch of crooks as well, but we can at least vote them out of office every so often without the Army telling us who will control!

[slapout]

I grant that your examples of tax evasion and your assertion that some politicians are akin to mobsters, in the US, may be accurate. But to equate the judicial system and enforcement of laws, corruption, etc, there vs Thailand may display how naive you are about Thailand.There is a long list of elected officials who have spent time behind bars, over the past 50 years, and would probably include nearly every state. Its not a perfect system and we cannot hope for perfection as long as humans are involved, but compared to the developing countries of the world and many so called developed, it is seen as a standard. The crucial part is, will the US continue improving the system by, closing loop holes, rooting out and prosecuting offenders, both private and public.