AMLO Takes Up Case Of Suphoth's Unusual Wealth: Bangkok

[webfact]

AMLO takes up case of Suphoth's unusual wealth

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Anti-Money Laundering Office's board yesterday accepted new cases under its jurisdiction, including the unusual wealth allegations against suspended Transport Ministry permanentsecretary Suphoth Sublom, and moneywiring scams committed by call centres.

Crimes under investigation were varied and included public fraud, extortion and excisetax evasion relating to either the callcentre gangs or other crimes, said acting directorgeneral Seehanart Prayoonrat.

In a highprofile case involving a callcentre racket, a woman handed over Bt30 million of her savings, and a number of other Thais lost a total of Bt170 million to rackets based in Taiwan and China. AMLO has frozen 85 bank accounts involved in these rackets, and 96 others are being frozen. Five foreign suspects have been arrested.

"In the next few days, an arrest warrant will be acquired for a Thai suspect who assisted in many callcentre rackets," he added.

Other cases involved terrorrelated crimes and police raids on gambling dens in the Tao Poon area on two occasions, in which owners or operators were convicted and sentenced, and are subject to asset seizures.

Suphoth now holds an inactive post pending disciplinary action, and also faces asset seizures, after he failed to declare the source of Bt18.1 million stolen from his Bangkok home in a highprofile burglary. He had declared only Bt5 million to police after the heist in November last year.

AMLO's board has agreed to inspect sources of assets in 15 drugrelated cases, after seizing Bt900,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth Bt1.6 million through 11 indictments.

-- The Nation 2012-02-01

[alexakap]

Everyone knows well the source of such kinds of wealth. EVERYONE, include those @AMLO. Everyone at this country pays undertable envelopes to make things done. Me myself doing that too. Why just not sound that to the public?

A thieves are punished not because they stole something - but because they was catched while doing that.

Supoth was somehow "catched" when the story leaks to the public.

Everyone knows the sources of polititian's wealths. Just divide his total wealth to his monthly salary - and see the difference. Just accept it officially, and punish him now - no need hundreds of "comissions" and years of "investigations" while others stealing around in the very same way.

Maybe after several cases of public pinushment and cleaning their own house - this country will have a chance to progress and grow up. Look to China or Singapore.

With hundreds of "comissions" and ping-ponging the very clear cases - there is not even a hope...

[pisico]

Graft and corruption are traditional industries in Thailand. Anyone in a position of power is expected to benefit from that status quo, no matter the colour of the shirt. Clans, families and other tribal groups control industry, commerce and government.

One cannot expect to have government to police itself in Thailand because it will be an oxymoron. Only when accidental (or premeditated) disclosure of cases such as this one, makes it to the news, then the convoluted process of investigating, obfuscating and/or muddling facts will start. We know the results from past experiences: a slap on the wrist and a transfer. The MO of a society that cannot break this age old tradition. That is what keeps Thailand in this ambiguous historical slot: a superficially modern society living by traditional tribal rules. We Farangs (even the Thai apologists) know this and all we can do is to be aware and protect ourselves the best we can.

[Reasonableman]

The game is called "passing the hot potato" until the whole meal becomes unappetizing and everyone loses interest.