Sinking Lower The Lowest

[penzman]

“My father will definitely go to the court tomorrow to hear its verdict,” Thai Rak Thai party-list MP Sonthaya Kunplome, one of Somchai’s sons,

Predestined to be TRT material with his father's genes.

[Sing_Sling]

The lower courts found Somchai guilty of ordering the killing, although he claims his chosen hitman failed to carry out the task. In this case, Somchai was sentenced to 25 years in jail.

His daughter Jiraporn said yesterday she was not sure whether her father would hear tomorrow’s verdict in person. She said he had asked his children to stay away from the courtroom.

She said Somchai, better known as “Kamnan Poh”, visited a doctor every month and suffered from low-blood pressure. A source said if Somchai did not show up tomorrow, the Supreme Court would postpone its verdict. And if he failed to attend a second session, an arrest warrant would be issued.

Immigration Bureau commander Pol Lt-General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said officials were watching all official routes out of the country and there was no record of Somchai making an escape attempt. But he conceded that boats and forest paths offered an unofficial route out.

Whew, nice excuse: "but your honour, my hit man didn't finish the job, leniency, please"

The lower courts found Somchai guilty of ordering the killing, although he claims his chosen hitman failed to carry out the task

Is this a hint?

But he conceded that boats and forest paths offered an unofficial route out, Immigration Bureau commander Pol Lt-General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said

hahahaha, gotta love it . . .

[sriracha john]

The unsurprising and inevitable follow-up :

Delay in verdict sought by lawyers

Supreme Court told notorious Chon Buri godfather is in poor health and needs rest

A lawyer representing Thailand's most notorious godfather, Somchai Kunplome, also known as Kamnan Poh,yesterday asked the Supreme Court to postpone the reading of a verdict in a corruption case against him.

Somchai's poor health was cited as a reason for postponing the verdict, a source said.

The Supreme Court was scheduled to give its verdict on the case today. If it upholds the two lower courts' rulings, Somchai will face five years and four months in jail.

The courts found Somchai guilty of masterminding corrupt land deals worth Bt93 million in total.

In 1992, Pira, or "Chaleaw", Sinrat bought 150 rai of land in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district from KITI Corporation for Bt50,000 a rai (Bt7.5 million in total).

In the purchase contract, the parties acknowledged the land was located on a forest reserve. It was later discovered that Pira was a gardener on Somchai's estate. *what IS it with gardeners in Thailand as this is so similar to Thaksin's gardener holding billions of baht worth of Shin Corp. stock*

In early 1993, Pira sold 140 rai of the land to Pattaya City, a special administrative body, for Bt668,000 per rai (or Bt93 million in total) to use as a landfill. *nice little 85.5 million baht profit for holding the land less than a year*

City officials were found to have been involved in the scam, agreeing to pay an inflated price for land that they knew was part of a forest reserve.

Officials from Chon Buri's land office and the Lands Department sent letters to the municipal office warning of irregularities in the sale, but the Bt93-million purchase went ahead.

This is not the only case against Somchai at the Supreme Court. He is also accused of hiring hit men to murder Prayoon Sitichote, a rival businessman involved in construction.

Negotiations for the contract to kill Prayoon took place between October 2002 and March 2003. The hit men tried unsuccessfully to kill Prayoon several times. An unknown gunman, who remains at large, gunned down Prayoon during a wedding ceremony in 2003.

In 2004, Somchai was sentenced to 25 years in prison for hiring the hit men to kill Prayoon.

A year later, the Appeals Court upheld the lower court's decision.

The Supreme Court has yet to set a date for its ruling on that case. Meanwhile, Somchai is free on Bt20 million bail.

If the Supreme Court upholds the lower courts' guilty verdicts in both cases, the godfather from Chon Buri faces a total of 30 years and four months in prison.

- TN 24/02/06

Edited February 24, 2006 by sriracha john

[dr_Pat_Pong]

No real surprise here LOL

[johnnyk]

You people forget where you are at: THIS IS THAILAND! Money and power are respected no matter how the money was acquired. If you have the power to protect your money and make even more money it is respected all the more. There is a fine line between respect and fear but both work equally well.

Indeed.

They also confuse Pattaya Mail with a news organization.

The "news" is a vehicle to convey ads.

And if Somchai offed someone in his way, he can off some Pattaya Mail twerp as easily.

[albert dickinson]

The newspaper article i read about Somchai Kunphluem, including photo's of his 68th Birthday was the Pattaya People newspaper.

Albert

[Mobi]

Surprise surprise... read on....

Court delays reading Kamnan Poh graft verdict

The Chon Buri provincial court yesterday put off the reading of its verdict in a corruption case against Somchai Khunpluem, alias Kamnan Poh, who failed to show up for health reasons. Mr Somchai's lawyer, Sa-nga Thanawongsanguan, yesterday presented to the court his client's request that the verdict be postponed, and a medical report confirming that Mr Somchai was suffering from fatigue and constriction of blood vessels in the brain.

The verdict has been rescheduled for March 23.

An arrest warrant could be issued against Mr Somchai if he fails to show up and if there are any indications he will attempt to flee the country.

Bangkok Post

constriction of blood vessels in the brain.

That's a new one! Must have paid double - about 200 Baht - for such an enlightened sick note

[sriracha john]

“My father will definitely go to the court tomorrow to hear its verdict,” Thai Rak Thai party-list MP Sonthaya Kunplome, one of Somchai’s sons,

Predestined to be TRT material with his father's genes.

Supreme court postpones verdict on influential mayor

CHONBURI, Feb 24 (TNA) - The supreme court in Thailand's eastern seaboard province of Chonburi has postponed its verdict on an appeal by Somchai Kunplome--also known as 'Kamnan Poh'--against a corruption conviction until next month, as the defendant failed to appear in court citing health problems.

Despite a confirmation by Mr. Somchai's son on Thursday the he would appear in court Friday morning, he failed to show up, sending a lawyer instead.

Yep... He's got that TRT Party Liar Protocol down pat, Penzman...

Sa-nga Tanasanguenwong, Mr. Somchai's lawyer, told the court that his client was suffering from a severe apoplectic stroke and asthma; so he was medically unable to be present to hear the verdict. A medical document certifying his illness was presented to the court.

sheesh... haven't heard that phrase "apoplectic stroke" in ages... For a multi-millionaire, he's not got real up-to-date doctors...

yourdictionary.com

This word is the adjective for an old word for "stroke," apoplexy. It has an adverb, "apoplectically," but its meaning has slipped from medical usage to refer not only to the motionless state brought on by an apoplectic fit but to any sudden emotional outburst that leaves us powerless to respond.

The court later decided to postpone delivery of the verdict until March 23 at 9:30 a.m.

stay tuned.... see ya in a month.

Edited February 25, 2006 by sriracha john

[alexth]

The Bangkok post ran a few articles on mafia and hitmen in Thailand quite a few years ago. it amazed me that they wrote the names of who these people were. It seems the government and so police know who thes people are. Why don't they do anything about them? They'll happily kill off a few thousand low level drug dealers and a few hundred moslems but they won't dare get rid of the mafia. Thaksin really needs to let the people know whether he is mafia or not. He obviously hasn't done anything about these corrupt Thai blood sucking maggots so it would seem he is pro-mafia.

Thailand is a place where those in power don't flinch an eye over the deaths of little people. And a place where those in power dine with murderers. Fact. Fact. Fact.

That's because he is one of them...

[Wanphen]

I hope his not making a list of the posters here ..?

Oh I ment to post anonymously!

Oh your your a nice enough group as any to be shot with

My husband asked that I update the life insurance...

Should have posted with his name...Hmmmm

Wanphen

Edited February 26, 2006 by Wanphen

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Prosecution seeks asset seizure

The prosecution has asked the Civil Court to temporarily confiscate over 30 million baht in assets of Somchai Khunpluem, also known as Kamnan Poh, his wife and daughter in connection with a garbage dump graft scam in Chon Buri province. Prosecutor Kitinant Thatpramuk yesterday sought a court order targeting 30.13 million baht kept in 30 bank accounts held by Mr Somchai, the former mayor of tambon Saen Suk in Chon Buri, his wife Satil and daughter Jiraporn.

The petition says Mr Somchai abused his authority as mayor when a plot was sought to create a garbage dump in Bang Lamung district's tambon Khao Maikaew. In 1992, the plot was sold for 93 million baht. The seller put 30 million baht into the accounts of Mr Somchai, his wife and daughter while Mr Somchai still held office.

The prosecutor asked the court to seize the money pending the verdict. The court's power is needed as the 90-day temporary seizure by the Anti-Money Laundering Office expired yesterday. The court accepted the petition for consideration.

- BP Wednesday March 22, 2006

Hopefully, this time something more constructive than Post #24 reported.

Also, this is other aspect of following-up is coming up tomorrow:

Supreme court postpones verdict on influential mayor

The court later decided to postpone delivery of the verdict until March 23 at 9:30 a.m.

Edited March 22, 2006 by sriracha john

[Kerryd]

It seems that here, money = power = more money = more power = even more money = (and so on).

Chances are nothing will happen (nothing positive any ways).

[ProfessorFart]

Thats it exactly Kerryd. Look at Duangchalerm for another prime example.

[marshbags]

Name one Pu Yi who has / is actually serving out there sentence.

Over the last few years there have been many blatant manipulations and i cannot recall even one example of sentencing being carried out.

If you are under priviledged, poor or uneducated ( all 3 come into play ) you can expect the full penalties to the extremes.

I.E. ( PuYi ) Kamnan , his convictions and surely meaningless penalties and convictions

( U.privileged ) toll attendant sentenced to 40 years for alleged fiddling at the toll booths

( PuYi ) suppliers of drugs no convictions no executions

( U. privileged ) 2000 plus alleged dealers executed without trial.

ect. ect.

I could vomit at the likes of the Pattaya Mail and the Pattaya People for their publication and consequently giving respectability to this evil B****** and his cronies.

marshbags

Edited March 22, 2006 by marshbags

[sriracha john]

The Nation television news just finished reporting that our good friend Somchai failed to show up for his scheduled Supreme Court hearing today and that they issued a warrant for his immediate arrest and confinement.

He's run out on his millions of baht in bail money to avoid going to prison and is suspected of having fled the country.

He's a wanted man.... so Keep Runnin' You Old SOB.

[Mobi]

The Nation television news just finished reporting that our good friend Somchai failed to show up for his scheduled Supreme Court hearing today and that they issued a warrant for his immediate arrest and confinement.

He's run out on his millions of baht in bail money to avoid going to prison and is suspected of having fled the country.

He's a wanted man.... so Keep Runnin' You Old SOB.

I'll bet you everyone, including the judge, the police, his family, the government, The pattaya Mail and goodness knows who else, all knew that when he finally ran out of delaying tactics, that he would jump bail and disappear. The police even said that they were expecting it.

It's complete a farce, and makes a mockery of anything we discuss on the subject of justice in Thailand.

[Terminator]

i am suprised he did not pay a poor sucker to spend some time on his behalf

that how its normally done, guess he made to many enemy's

[penzman]

The Nation television news just finished reporting that our good friend Somchai failed to show up for his scheduled Supreme Court hearing today and that they issued a warrant for his immediate arrest and confinement.

He's run out on his millions of baht in bail money to avoid going to prison and is suspected of having fled the country.

He's a wanted man.... so Keep Runnin' You Old SOB.

That'll improve his asthma and apoplec... whatever condition he has.

His hotel in Bang Saen sure serves fine pineaple juice. Haven't seen him by the pool with loads of babes.

[sriracha john]

he has a well documented condition, Penz: prisonshowerphobia

[Kerryd]

he has a well documented condition, Penz: prisonshowerphobia

Good thing "the gent" isn't here, or you'd be getting an insult-laden rant about being unbalanced and having sado-homo-erotic "issues", like I got for the comment "bite-the-pillow"

[sriracha john]

He's in... uhmmm.... Sriracha

Somchai's verdict postponed

Chon Buri — The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to postpone the reading of its verdict on a corruption charge against Thailand's most notorious godfather, Somchai Kunplome.

This was the second time the highest court rescheduled the verdict reading for Somchai, whose doctor said was on a respirator due to the narrowing blood vessels in the brain. Dr Thanakhom Manthananon, the director of Phya Thai Hospital Sri Racha , was in the courtroom Thursday to explain why Somchai's ill health made it impossible for him to attend the session.

The Supreme Court interrogated Thanakhom before finally deciding to reschedule the verdict reading on April 7.

If the highest court upholds the two lower courts' rulings, Somchai will face five years and four months in jail.

The lower courts have found Somchai guilty masterminding corrupt land deals worth Bt93 million in total. As Somchai appealed against their verdict, the case was now in the Supreme Court.

So far, this is not the only case against Somchai at the Supreme Court.

He is also accused of hiring hit men to murder Prayoon Sitichote, a rival businessman involved in construction. Negotiations for the contract to kill Prayoon took place between October 2002 and March 2003. The hit men tried unsuccessfully to kill Prayoon several times. An unknown gunman, who remains at large, gunned down Prayoon during a wedding ceremony in 2003.

In 2004, Somchai was sentenced to 25 years in prison for hiring the hit men to kill Prayoon. A year later, the Appeals Court upheld the lower court's decision.

The Supreme Court has yet to set a date for its ruling on the case. Currently, Somchai is free on Bt20 million bail.

-------------------------------------

uhmm... I'd just like to say for the record that I have always found Khun Somchai to be a generous, kind, benevolent, and honest man. I wish him a speedy recovery and wish him all the best in his endeavor to fight off these ridiculously false charges.

[Kerryd]

uhmm... I'd just like to say for the record that I have always found Khun Somchai to be a generous, kind, benevolent, and honest man. I wish him a speedy recovery and wish him all the best in his endeavor to fight off these ridiculously false charges.

Not trying to brown-nose or anything, are you ?

Trying to get on his good side and get a slice of the pie (or mango, being this is Thailand) ?

[sriracha john]

uhmm... I'd just like to say for the record that I have always found Khun Somchai to be a generous, kind, benevolent, and honest man. I wish him a speedy recovery and wish him all the best in his endeavor to fight off these ridiculously false charges.

Not trying to brown-nose or anything, are you ?

Trying to get on his good side and get a slice of the pie (or mango, being this is Thailand) ?

Not at all. Just wish to point out that this gentle human being would never harm a fellow human being, let alone murder someone... so the charges that he is some "godfather"... or that he ordered a "hit" on someone are obviously just vicious lies.

[sriracha john]

Well, another month has gone by so I suppose it's time for the monthly UPDATE on this case. Apparently the money-laundering folks at AMLO finally found some money belonging to the man, even though earlier in their first examination of his assets, they couldn't even find a 50 satang coin belonging to him. It would also seem that Somchai used the old tried and true Thaksin method of asset concealment by putting it in his daughter's name. Interestingly, it's still been seized. The Supreme Court will rule on his final appeal in this case tomorrow. I'm hoping that will have tired of the "medical" delays by now and won't delay it further. It would be a nice add-on for the TRT Party woes to have him behind bars the same week Thaksin resigns.

Yet to be announced by the press is how the appeals in his OTHER conviction, for first degree murder, are progressing.

Kamnan Poh's daughter sues AMLO over seized B13.4 million

The daughter of Somchai Khunpluem, alias Kamnan Poh, has sued three officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) for malfeasance and making false statements in the seizure of a 13.4-million-baht cash deposit belonging to her.

Lawyer Chamnan Chadit yesterday represented Jiraporn Khunpluem in lodging the lawsuit with the Criminal Court against the AMLO officials: acting secretary-general Pol Col Yuthaboon Dissamarn, inspector Pol Lt-Col Sunai Haruanphuet and legal officer Achariyaphan Wongwarn. He alleged the officials made false statements and committed malfeasance in the temporary seizure of her cash deposit.

The AMLO had claimed that the money was obtained through corruption surrounding a land purchase scam in which Somchai, ex-mayor of tambon Saen Suk in Chon Buri, was implicated.

Earlier, the lower court sentenced Somchai to five years and four months in prison for graft in the purchase by Pattaya City between 1992 and 1993 of a 140-rai land plot valued at 93 million baht in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri. The land was designated as a garbage dump.

Somchai appealed but the Appeals Court let the verdict stand. He appealed to the Supreme Court, which is expected to deliver its decision tomorrow after delays resulting from Somchai's ill health.

Ms Jiraporn insisted the money had nothing to do with the scam. **...but wouldn't elaborate on specifically which particular scam it WAS obtained from...** According to her suit, AMLO made a 90-day seizure of 53 items of assets belonging to Somchai, his wife and his daughter after Somchai was found guilty of corruption.

She accused Pol Lt-Col Sunai and Ms Achariyaphan of lying to an AMLO panel that her 13.4-million-baht deposit had been derived from corruption.

The acting Amlo chief asked the prosecution to seek a court order to confiscate the assets, including the money, pending appeals although Pol Lt-Col Sunai had testified that Ms Jiraporn had never hidden or transferred her assets.

The court accepted the lawsuit and set July 17 as the date for the first examination

- BP

-------------------------------------------------

Reminds me of the old Sly Stone song: "It's a family affairrrr... it's a family affairrr"

I can imagine some future Chonburi court schedule listing to read:

08:00 People vs Khunpluem (murder conviction appeal)

10:00 Khunpluem vs AMLO (civil lawsuit)

13:00 People vs Khunpluem (graft conviction appeal)

14:00 People vs Khunpluem (take your pick)

Edited April 6, 2006 by sriracha john

[Kerryd]

Maybe they figure, he's got no money, but his daughter does. Take her money and then there's less chance of it being used to make certain witness's disappear ?

Then maybe the government would actually have a chance to get a conviction ?

Wonder why she can't prove where the money came from ? A simple check of the banking records should be able to show withdrawals and deposits that appear to match, if he did indeed transfer everything to his daughter.

Similar thing happened in the trial of one of the guys charged with blowing up an Air India flight that was enroute to Scotland a few years back.

He transferred all his assets into his wife's name, and when he went to trial told the court he couldn't afford hs own lawyers. His wife's "assets" were valued at over $10 million (Cdn), and she refused to use any of it to hire lawyers for her husband

The taxpayers ended up footing the bill for his "public defenders". Not just any Public defenders though, but very high-priced ones that the ordinary guy would never get.

What angered a lot of people, was that the defense team actually hired members of this guys family, who were not qualified to do anything, and got paid pretty good money to do a whole lot of nothing. All paid for by the taxpayer

(Apparently, the high-priced lawyers were told to hire the family members, or the defendant would fire them and get new lawyers).

[Artisan]

Ok, ok... I realize they are an insult to respectable news organizations and journalists the world over.... but then just don't call it Pattaya City News (or Pattaya Mail, for that matter). Keep things honest and call them:

The Pattaya Wimpy Drippy Spineless Tribune

and the

Pattaya On Our Knees And Servicing The Power Brokers Herald

Yes John, the local English Language newspapers in Pattaya, including 'Pattaya People', are not even worthy of being torn into 1 foot square sheets and being hung on a rusty nail behind an outside toilet door.

"Pattaya Mail" and the "Pattaya People" are the biggest sphincter licking publications that have ever hit the streets of Thailand.....

Can I say that?....Whoops, I just did!

[sriracha john]

Ok, ok... I realize they are an insult to respectable news organizations and journalists the world over.... but then just don't call it Pattaya City News (or Pattaya Mail, for that matter). Keep things honest and call them:

The Pattaya Wimpy Drippy Spineless Tribune

and the

Pattaya On Our Knees And Servicing The Power Brokers Herald

Yes John, the local English Language newspapers in Pattaya, including 'Pattaya People', are not even worthy of being torn into 1 foot square sheets and being hung on a rusty nail behind an outside toilet door.

"Pattaya Mail" and the "Pattaya People" are the biggest sphincter licking publications that have ever hit the streets of Thailand.....

Can I say that?....Whoops, I just did!

geez Artisan... pulled that one out of archive bins.... :D

and yes, I didn't really mean to omit the Pattaya People from the scathing re-titling... you can add them AND Pattaya Today onto that pile of toilet paper as well.

I did two of them already, anyone else have ideas for re-naming the other two?

[Artisan]

geez Artisan... pulled that one out of archive bins.... :D

So, your memory goes that far back also!!! Some of us are like those two old guys sitting in a balcony box on the Muppet Show (Tyrone...and I forget the other!)...but I think that I would rather go out into the local wood and use a dock leaf than demean myself by using anyone of these local rags.

[sriracha john]

geez Artisan... pulled that one out of archive bins.... :D

So, your memory goes that far back also!!! Some of us are like those two old guys sitting in a balcony box on the Muppet Show (Tyrone...and I forget the other!)...but I think that I would rather go out into the local wood and use a dock leaf than demean myself by using anyone of these local rags.

You mean these guys? Different names. Hilarious stuff. They were so grumpily funny all the time.

Must have been ex-pats in Thailand for a time...

Waldorf:

Statler:

[Artisan]

You mean these guys? Different names. Hilarious stuff. They were so grumpily funny all the time.

Must have been ex-pats in Thailand for a time...

Waldorf:

Statler:

That's them John. Last seen at the Bar Beer Lawyers' Convention in Soi Yamato.