Supoth Claims Millions Earned From Second Job

[webfact]

MYSTERIOUS CASH

Supoth claims millions earned from second job

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Suphoth Sublom, the suspended permanent secretary for Transport being investigated for possible corruption, yesterday told the national anti-graft agency that he earned extra income by moonlighting as an engineering designer for 20 years. However, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is investigating the allegations, yesterday said Suphoth could not produce documents to prove his claim.

NACC member Preecha Lertkamolmart said the agency asked Suphoth to appear before it again on March 26 as his testimony was incomplete. "He has to come by himself to explain the source of his extra income," Preecha said.

The NACC members needed to study more than 200 pages of documents that Suphoth submitted an hour before he met the graft-busters yesterday, according to Preecha, who added the agency would also have to interrogate more than 10 witnesses named by Suphoth.

After meeting with commission members for over three hours, Suphoth told reporters yesterday that he had "answered all the NACC's questions" - verbally, in writing and with supporting documents".

He insisted that only Bt5 million was stolen from his house in November. Police seized Bt18 million from the suspected robbers. Suphoth said he was not concerned about his case. He said he had earned extra money honestly between 1977 and 1997 by doing extra work producing engineering designs.

Preecha said Suphoth had not been able to produce documents to support his claim. "Suphoth said it was 20 years ago, and that the banks could not help because they don't have records going back further than 10 years," Preecha said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-09

[harrry]

The tax department will still have the records

[Bagwan]

The tax department will still have the records

What tax? I doubt that he declared any additional fictional income

[Reasonableman]

There was a report that the bank wrappers and serial numbers were traced back to contractor payments. If 5m was stolen, why was 18m recovered? The robbers gave testimony they saw more money in bags, is that testimony credible or not? Is moonlighting of this kind not a conflict of interest? How were the house, cars, etc affordable on the legitimate normal salary? Still seem to be many many questions left unanswered.

[Soupdragon]

So he gave up such lucrative work to devote himself to public service, my hero.

[moe666]

Now come on guys here is a hard working Thai sacrificing himself to make extra money for his family.

[Colin Yai]

Does anyone out there in their wildest dreams believe he will be nailed for graft?,IMO eventually like so many other similar cases it will be swept under the carpet and forgotten.

[whybother]

I thought "the millions" were a wedding dowry. Are there more "millions" that he is admitting to being stolen now?

[harrry]

The tax department will still have the records

What tax? I doubt that he declared any additional fictional income

Exactly so he did not do the work

[airconsult]

Yes, he earned all that money between 1977 and 1997 and then decided to leave it lying around the house........huh? Oh.. he bought houses, etc - hope he submitted the records of transactions for those - oh, and the cars - should be easy to find the bills of sale which note the terms of payment (cash no doubt).

"The dog ate my homework....." handed 200 pages to them an hour before the meeting.... Anyone cooking fish? (sniff)

Pardon my cynicism - I have met quite a few employees in various ministries, and when I see one driving a new BMW or something and I know they only get 30k per month or less the story is always "I have a small business too to make extra money...."

Edited March 9, 2012 by airconsult

[Heimdallr]

Only criminals keep that kind of cash in hand.

[givenall]

Now come on guys here is a hard working Thai sacrificing himself to make extra money for his family.

And then he moves to Dubai??????

[steelepulse]

Does this genius really believe that anyone believes him? Probably would have been better to say he's been lucky at the casinos, black lottery, and the track for the last 30 years.

Edit: If banks only have records for 10 years, than that 30 year mortgage that everyone has won't have to be honoured after 10 years as there won't be any records. Case closed.

Edited March 9, 2012 by steelepulse

[slapout]

He has not sued any individual or newspapers as yet, for tarnishing his good name???? I would wonder if he isn't another bagman/mule. If so, he knows names, dates, amount etc. I can see him riding of into the sunset in the near future.

[DocN]

Does this genius really believe that anyone believes him? Probably would have been better to say he's been lucky at the casinos, black lottery, and the track for the last 30 years.

Edit: If banks only have records for 10 years, than that 30 year mortgage that everyone has won't have to be honoured after 10 years as there won't be any records. Case closed.

The question is wrong.

It should be: is he really interested in anyone believing him?

He knows, he will get off the hook, so why worry!?

[hoaker]

NACC, please wait for him to make up and back date those documents. Circumstantial evidence is solid evidence in Thailand.

[sparebox2]

Couldn't make ends meet, so have to moonlight as an engineer.

Just like Samak, moonlight as a chief.

[ratcatcher]

Just so everybody understands who we are discussing, here's a picture of Thailand's hardest working most honest individual.

Supoth Sublom

[BoonToong]

[daninthai]

His claims of the amount stolen change.

His claims of where the money came from change.

He still has not produced any evidence of where the money came from.

No one keeps bags of money lying around the house 15-20 years after they earned it.

I'm more inclined to believe the robbers, who claim there was more money than the 18 million already recovered, over this guy.

His fate will depend on how much dirt he has on those above him. Most likely the court's decision will be that there is 'insufficient evidence'.

[Misterwhisper]

When I look at Mr. Sablom's luxurious estate, I'd say it cost at least 40 million (and only assuming the land was already his family's property and he didn't need to purchase it). Plus about 7 luxury cars. Plus 5 million cash as a dowry. Plus an army of domestic helpers. Plus not inconsiderable monthly expenses for car insurance, estate upkeep, etc. Plus the daily living expenses of a rather large family. Producing engineering designs in your spare time must be really, really lucrative.

By the way, how much income tax has been paid on that extra income?

[fstarbkk]

Does this genius really believe that anyone believes him? Probably would have been better to say he's been lucky at the casinos, black lottery, and the track for the last 30 years.

It's completely irrelevant whether anyone believes him. What's important is to supply his government/ bureaucrat friends enough excuses, however implausible, to let him off the hook due to "reasonable" doubts.

What's most relevant to this man's future is how many people he can take down with him if he goes. Take your best guess!

Edited March 9, 2012 by fstarbkk

[OzMick]

We can only hope that when his claims are proved false, Perjury charges on those offering false testimony on his behalf, like those waiting to be served on the current PM.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Does anyone out there in their wildest dreams believe he will be nailed for graft?

No.

[bunnaag]

So he gave up such lucrative work to devote himself to public service, my hero.

as a public servant he will get a pension.

[sparebox2]

When I look at Mr. Sablom's luxurious estate, I'd say it cost at least 40 million (and only assuming the land was already his family's property and he didn't need to purchase it). Plus about 7 luxury cars. Plus 5 million cash as a dowry. Plus an army of domestic helpers. Plus not inconsiderable monthly expenses for car insurance, estate upkeep, etc. Plus the daily living expenses of a rather large family. Producing engineering designs in your spare time must be really, really lucrative.

By the way, how much income tax has been paid on that extra income?

Didn't your mommy tell you that you should have gone for an engineering degree?

Or was it your grades?

[billd766]

I worked as an engineer for 50 years and I never earned that much.

I guess I was ion the wrong engineering job.

[MEL1]

The car industry in China pays that much - upto 700,000 Bt a month for a Senior Vehicle Manager. However, the Chinese want Westerners, and not Thai's who know sweet FA about car design or management, less one or two.

Something tells me this lunatic doesn't know anything about cars, apart from knowing how to manage 7 of his own.

-mel.

[Reasonableman]

"Consulting engineers" get a whole heap more money than your run-of-the-mill kind. Bags and bags of it.

[MaiDong]

Love the way your post cascades like that.....but anyhow, what do 30 year old bank notes look like?

His claims of the amount stolen change.

His claims of where the money came from change.

He still has not produced any evidence of where the money came from.

No one keeps bags of money lying around the house 15-20 years after they earned it.

I'm more inclined to believe the robbers, who claim there was more money than the 18 million already recovered, over this guy.

His fate will depend on how much dirt he has on those above him. Most likely the court's decision will be that there is 'insufficient evidence'.