Suphoth's Resignation Will Not Affect Probe: Unusual Wealth

[webfact]

Suphoth's resignation will not affect probe

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The day of reckoning has arrived for Suphoth Sublom as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) prepares for a hearing today, now that its subpanel has handed over the results of its investigation.

NACC deputy chief Worawit Sukboon, who led the subpanel, said there could be three possible results from the hearing on the former Transport permanent secretary's allegedly unusual wealth.

He said the case could be brought to an end if the NACC finds the allegations groundless, or the NACC could ask for further investigation if the evidence provided is deemed insufficient.

On the other hand, if the allegations are proved to be correct, then Suphoth's assets could be either partially or completely confiscated depending on the hearing, he added.

The investigation was ordered after Suphoth's mansion in Bangkok's Lat Phrao area was burgled last year.

He insisted that the burglars only made off with Bt5 million, though police ended up retrieving about Bt18 million from the suspected robbers, who said that they had seen hundreds of millions of baht in cash at the house. The NACC has frozen the Bt18 million found by the police.

This enormous sum of money raised questions about Suphoth's wealth, as authorities decided to launch separate investigations into corruption allegations as well as the filing of a false report on his assets.

When Worawit was asked yesterday if Suphoth could provide more explanations about his unusual wealth, the deputy NACC chief said no, adding that the former civil servant had already been given a chance to defend himself.

He also insisted that Suphoth's resignation from his post at the Transport Ministry on Monday would not affect the investigation because the subpanel had already completed interrogating relevant parties and gathering evidence related to his alleged unusual wealth.

As for the investigation into Suphoth's false declaration of assets and corruption allegations, the panel should have the results by the end of August, Worawit said.

Meanwhile, yesterday Suphoth dismissed speculation that he was trying to escape accountability, saying he had quit his post because he did not want to create problems at the ministry.

"I just want the work at the Transport Ministry to proceed without any hindrance because I don't know when my legal troubles will end," he said.

Should the NACC decide to prosecute Suphoth for ill-gotten gains, his exit from the civil service would mean he will face graft proceedings but not disciplinary punishment, which would have led to his dismissal without pension and other benefits.

NACC member Klanarong Chantik said if Suphoth does get prosecuted, the verdict would only end with the seizure of his assets. This seizure will only cover assets whose acquisition the defence cannot justify.

As for filing a false-asset statement, Suphoth could face a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to Bt10,000 or both.

-- The Nation 2012-05-24

[OzMick]

There was no need to resign. If he had waited a bit, he would get a transfer to an inactive post which is much the same.

Resignation protects the pension? - Only in Thailand.

[cloudhopper]

A 10,000 baht fine should deter anyone else who is tempted by corruption.

[otherstuff1957]

My bet is that the investigation will drag on for about 2 more years and will then be either dismissed for insufficient evidence or be fined 10,000 baht!

[ralphlsasser]

So, it's a win win situation. He resigns his post and even if he gets convicted, he still gets his pension. Corruption at it's finest.

[Reasonableman]

The fanfared campaign against corruption must be starting a little later than previously announced. Or perhaps its only aimed at NEW corruption... must have missed the amnesty announcement.

Edited May 24, 2012 by Reasonableman

[Thai at Heart]

As for filing a false-asset statement, Suphoth could face a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to Bt10,000 or both.

I am sure he has that under the bed somewhere

[pointoffew]

Disgusting that this man - an example of a flight risk - is allowed to walk freely, while people without money and passport, suspected of petty crimes or of violating certain computer acts, are in jail and often refused bail. It is just one example of the carefully cultured, nurtured and protected social divide.

[belg]

ah, he will get his money back; once big brother is back in town

[jeffcool]

So, it's a win win situation. He resigns his post and even if he gets convicted, he still gets his pension. Corruption at it's finest.

And even better.... "This seizure will only cover assets whose acquisition the defence cannot justify."

me think everything is on his wife's name anyway..... So they will end up seizing...... sweet FA

[Arkady]

Some Thais say he was a bag man who collected all the bribes from road contractors in person. And that towards the end of the Abhisit government he foresaw their demise at the polls and suspended payment of the mandated monthly rent of Bt 10 million to nominees of the man behind the party that controlled the Transport Ministry. After the elections, knowing that he had a large amount of cash awaiting laundering and/or distribution to co-conspirators in his house, they decided to take their revenge by arranging the burglary, while he was out at his daughter's wedding. Of course I don't believe these scurrilous rumours about a law abiding civil servant who has made it clear that the cash payments were all honestly earned consulting fees from companies in the construction sector for work done in his free time over 10 to 20 years that he declared for income tax. He was busy with his onerous duties at the ministry he just hadn't been able to find time to get to the bank to deposit the money and stacked up under his bed for safekeeping instead.

He will have to get off unpunished or with a slap on the wrist because it is unthinkable for a "poo yai" of his status to go to jail for merely looting the taxpayer but it will be a costly undertaking and his enemies have the satisfaction of seeing him bogged down in legal proceedings for years.

Edited May 24, 2012 by Arkady

[drdoom6996]

There was no need to resign. If he had waited a bit, he would get a transfer to an inactive post which is much the same.

Resignation protects the pension? - Only in Thailand.

+1

[drdoom6996]

A 10,000 baht fine should deter anyone else who is tempted by corruption.

People don't understand sarcasm on this site!!!!

[drdoom6996]

ah, he will get his money back; once big brother is back in town

I really hope you are wrong, but....................................................................TIT

[newermonkey]

"Unusual Wealth" no its normal for these #$@^&bags

[Arkady]

There was no need to resign. If he had waited a bit, he would get a transfer to an inactive post which is much the same.

Resignation protects the pension? - Only in Thailand.

Wasn't a former police chief fired retroactively and stripped of his pension rights after he had already retired and then re-instated?

[siampolee]

I am sure he has that under the bed somewhere

I would presume it would be stashed in something stylish like this perhaps?

[webfact]

Anti corruption agency resolves Permanent Secretary for Transport Supoj Saplom 'unusually wealthy' having added Bt17.5 million; proceed with assets seizure /MCOT

[webfact]

NACC rules to seize Suphoth's Bt17.5 million

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti Corruption Commission on Thursday ruled in an unanimous decision to seize Bt17.5 million in ill-gotten gains from former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom.

The NACC has scheduled another session May 29 to decide whether the Suphoth asset seizure would cover other items.

The case came to light after a break-in at Suphoth's home. Suphoth reported Bt5 million in cash and gold jewellery wigh 10 baht stolen. He said the cash was the wedding gift for his daughter.

Police subsequently uncovered the gold and Bt18 million cash.

In his statement given to the NACC, Suphoth insisted he lost Bt5 million plus the gold jewellery. He said Bt2.5 million cash was given to his daughter by her father-in-law. The elder relatives gave a total of Bt500,000 as gift.

The NACC ruled that only the gift worth Bt500,000 was deemed justified before ordering the remaining cash confiscated.

The case is expected to be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General to petition for the judicial endorsement for asset seizure.

-- The Nation 2012-05-24

[americaninbangkok]

My bet is that the investigation will drag on for about 2 more years and will then be either dismissed for insufficient evidence or be fined 10,000 baht!

Oh ye of great faith! I say the investigation will be sunk in one year... and the only "fine" we'll see is some new china in his dining room.

[spidermike007]

While nearly every neighbor such as Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, Vietnam, the Phillippines, and even Laos have been fighting corruption for years, Thailand has been in a great slumber. No officials have been arrested for years now. Perhaps Thaksin was the last one? In China officials are getting put to death, while here the transport minister is caught with a billion baht cash in his living room, and he is not even arrested! Thailand is the laughing stock of all of Asia, and is on par with Burma, and Cambodia, in terms of the level of imbedded corruption, and the lack of will to fight it. Many friends are going to have to be lost, much pain will have to be endured, and many central, state, and local government officials, policemen, and military men will have to be arrested, tried, and convicted, in order for things to begin to change around here. Does Yingluck have the will for that fight? Does she have it in her? Is she the Harari of Thailand? If so she will go down in history. If not, she will be just another slogan uttering politician. Thailand has been cursed with way too many of them. Thailand needs change, and it cannot come too soon. This particular goombah needs to be sentenced to life in prison.

[khaowong1]

While nearly every neighbor such as Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, Vietnam, the Phillippines, and even Laos have been fighting corruption for years, Thailand has been in a great slumber. No officials have been arrested for years now. Perhaps Thaksin was the last one? In China officials are getting put to death, while here the transport minister is caught with a billion baht cash in his living room, and he is not even arrested! Thailand is the laughing stock of all of Asia, and is on par with Burma, and Cambodia, in terms of the level of imbedded corruption, and the lack of will to fight it. Many friends are going to have to be lost, much pain will have to be endured, and many central, state, and local government officials, policemen, and military men will have to be arrested, tried, and convicted, in order for things to begin to change around here. Does Yingluck have the will for that fight? Does she have it in her? Is she the Harari of Thailand? If so she will go down in history. If not, she will be just another slogan uttering politician. Thailand has been cursed with way too many of them. Thailand needs change, and it cannot come too soon. This particular goombah needs to be sentenced to life in prison.

Don't hold anything back.. Tell us what you think, OK? By the by, I agree with you, just having a little fun this morning.

[Bagwan]

I recall some phuyai from the Health Ministry doing time about 8 years ago. Cannot remember the details but I think he was enriched by Big Pharma.

[webfact]

MYSTERIOUS CASH

Suphoth to lose Bt17.5m cash, gold

The Nation May 25, 2012 1:00 am

Suphoth

NACC orders seizure, suspecting ex-permanent secretary had gained them dishonestly

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to seize Bt17.5 million in cash and gold ornaments from former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom on suspicion that he gained them dishonestly.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission made its decision after discussing details of Suphoth's case.

The NACC yesterday also scheduled another session on May 29 to decide whether the asset seizure should cover other items such as bank deposits, according to an agency member who requested anonymity.

The case came to light after a break-in at Suphoth's home in November last year. Suphoth reported Bt5 million in cash and gold jewellery weighing 10 baht (about 150 grams) had been stolen. He said the cash was a wedding gift for his daughter. Police subsequently uncovered the gold and Bt18.1 million cash.

In his statement to the NACC, Suphoth insisted that he had lost Bt5 million plus the gold jewellery. He said Bt2.5 million cash was given to his daughter by her father-in-law and elder relatives gave a total of Bt568,000 as gift. The NACC ruled yesterday that only the gift money from the elder relatives was deemed justified. Therefore, the agency ordered the confiscation of the remaining cash.

The case is expected to be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General to petition for judicial endorsement of the asset seizure.

NACC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said yesterday that judging from the pictures taken during the wedding ceremony, the dowry given to Suphoth's daughter was in new banknotes with plastic bands of the Bank of Thailand. However, the money seized from the robbers was used banknotes. The NACC members were not convinced the seized money was dowry. They also did not believe a claim by the father-in-law of Suphoth's daughter that he gave Bt2.5 million cash to her, as he was the only witness, according to Klanarong.

Meanwhile, in response to the NACC decision, Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said yesterday that he would set up a committee to investigate Suphoth's case, although the ministry's top bureaucrat had tendered his resignation.

"The investigation will be carried out in parallel with the process of approving Suphoth's resignation. They are considered different matters," the transport minister said.

"Although Suphoth has resigned, he will still be a former official of the ministry. While waiting for royal approval for his resignation, we will not consider appointing a new permanent secretary for Transport. Suphoth is still not completely out of his office," he said.

Suphoth, who had earlier been suspended from duty and resigned from his post on Tuesday, is accused of malfeasance, being unusually wealthy and filing false information about his financial statements with the NACC. Yesterday, he declined any comments involving the NACC decision.

Nine people - eight men and one woman - have been accused of involvement in the armed robbery at Suphoth's mansion in the Lat Phrao area. Six of them have been arrested, with some admitting to the alleged crime and others denying any involvement. Three of the alleged robbers are still at large, including alleged gang leader Weerasak Chualee, who is believed to have fled to Laos. The two other fugitives are likely to be in hiding in Thailand, according to police.

-- The Nation 2012-05-25

[kimamey]

There was no need to resign. If he had waited a bit, he would get a transfer to an inactive post which is much the same.

Resignation protects the pension? - Only in Thailand.

I seem to remember there were cases in the UK where police officers who were going to be investigated were signed off as being unfit to work because of some illness or disabilty and I'm sure they would have got their pension. It was dicovered that a lot of them suddenly became able to work and got jobs outside the force. I think it's been stopped noe though.

[Buchholz]

Suphoth to lose Bt17.5m cash, gold

The Nation May 25, 2012 1:00 am

Suphoth

NACC orders seizure, suspecting ex-permanent secretary had gained them dishonestly

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to seize Bt17.5 million in cash and gold ornaments from former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom on suspicion that he gained them dishonestly.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission made its decision after discussing details of Suphoth's case.

The NACC yesterday also scheduled another session on May 29 to decide whether the asset seizure should cover other items such as bank deposits,

Today, the NACC recommended the seizure of a lot more assets to the Attorney-General.

A total of 64.7 million baht in cash, gold, cars, lands, houses, and bank accounts is to be confiscated.

.

[Thai at Heart]

Suphoth to lose Bt17.5m cash, gold

The Nation May 25, 2012 1:00 am

Suphoth

NACC orders seizure, suspecting ex-permanent secretary had gained them dishonestly

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to seize Bt17.5 million in cash and gold ornaments from former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom on suspicion that he gained them dishonestly.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission made its decision after discussing details of Suphoth's case.

The NACC yesterday also scheduled another session on May 29 to decide whether the asset seizure should cover other items such as bank deposits,

Today, the NACC recommended the seizure of a lot more assets to the Attorney-General.

A total of 64.7 million baht in cash, gold, cars, lands, houses, and bank accounts is to be confiscated.

.

These types of stories you can only applaud. Keep digging, there's plenty more where that came from.

[hellodolly]

Suphoth to lose Bt17.5m cash, gold

The Nation May 25, 2012 1:00 am

Suphoth

NACC orders seizure, suspecting ex-permanent secretary had gained them dishonestly

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to seize Bt17.5 million in cash and gold ornaments from former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom on suspicion that he gained them dishonestly.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission made its decision after discussing details of Suphoth's case.

The NACC yesterday also scheduled another session on May 29 to decide whether the asset seizure should cover other items such as bank deposits,

Today, the NACC recommended the seizure of a lot more assets to the Attorney-General.

A total of 64.7 million baht in cash, gold, cars, lands, houses, and bank accounts is to be confiscated.

.

These types of stories you can only applaud. Keep digging, there's plenty more where that came from.

The article says

"NACC orders seizure, suspecting ex-permanent secretary had gained them dishonestl "

Well that is the way things are done in a dictatorship suspicions good enough who needs proof. But if you are the dictator and there is proof it dosen't count because it was politically motivated.

[hellodolly]

Personally I would like to see him and all of his kind hung by their bal s. For a day or two.

But not because I think they did it proof first then punishment.

[beautifulthailand99]

I would imagine that given how entrenched and embedded the whole level of corruption is only the corrupt can rise to the top as you get to know too much and have to be in on the deal.As others have said Thailand is sitting on a powderkeg of resentment and anger and the reds occupation of a couple of years ago is only the start. Sometimes it breaks my heart to see the sadness and tiredness in the eyes of many of the poor scratching a living day to day - good , honest noble people who in a fair society would receive their just rewards.