Surapong to face trial for abuse of power

By The Nation

The National Anti Corruption Commission has determined the cause of guilt for abuse of power involving former finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee in 2008.

The NACC yesterday forwarded the Surapong case to the Office of the Attorney General for trial preparations. Surapong is to be tried in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

Based on the NACC report, Surapong is charged for violating the Bank of Thailand Act during the Samak Sundaravej government.

As the then finance minister, Surapong was in charge of appointing the seven-member selection committee to nominate candidates for the central bank board. Under relevant provisions, selection committee members must not hold a political office nor have a conflict of interest.

Surapong decided to name three committee members despite their conflict of interest. The three were committee chairman Vijit Supinit and two members, Chaiwat Wibulsawat and Sathit Limpongpan.

At the time, Vijit was on the board of Thai Military Bank. Chaiwat was the board member of Krung Thai Bank and Sathit was the board chairman of Thai Military Bank.

-- The Nation 2011-03-23

NACC Finds Former Finance Minister Guilty of Malfeasance

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has found a former finance minister guilty of malfeasance in appointing committee members within the national bank.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission or NACC has found former Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee guilty of malfeasance in office.

According to the NACC, during his time as finance minister, Surapong appointed two people from the Thai Military and Krung Thai Banks as members of the senior selection committee at the Bangk of Thailand, which is considered a violation of regulations prohibiting conflict of interests.

The NACC's decision will be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General, who will decid whether Surapong should be prosecuted in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-23

quite the CV

Former ICT Minister in the Thaksin Cabinet Surapong Suebwonglee

Former Finance Minister in the Samak Cabinet Surapong Suebwonglee

Former Deputy Prime Minister in the Somchai Cabinet Surapong Suebwonglee

At least it's like the Mafia; they only mix with their own. I expect his defence to be that he was only following orders.

Another corrupt Thai official! Whatever next? Another dishonest Policeman, self-benefitting, poor abandoning politician, peacefullly demonstrating red shirt, Thai intellectual, hub of this, centre of that, promise today, jam tomorrow.

I grow old watching it all get so much better.

Who can honestly remember the last time they found a broken pavement?

For someone who was only PM for 8 or 9 months, Samak himself and his Cabinet is strewn with Ministers facing criminal charges (or faced in Samak's case).

I dare say, "unprecedented" in terms of corruption and abuse within such a short time.

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