National Anti Corruption Commission Seizes Bt64.7 Million From Suphoth

[webfact]

NACC seizes Bt64.7 million from Suphoth

THE NATION

Wealth of former top bureaucrat at Transport Ministry declared unusual; he could face criminal charges

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti Corruption Commission yesterday ruled that former Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom had amassed unusual wealth, ordering the seizure of Bt64.7 million in ill-gotten gains.

Following the unanimous ruling, the case will be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General to seek judicial endorsement for the asset seizure.

NACC member Klanarong Chantik said the ruling was based on two reports of the investigative panel in May, plus additional evidence subsequently uncovered.

The NACC had previously endorsed the two reports before impounding Bt17.5 million in cash and gold jewellery weighing 10 baht and a Volkswagen van valued at Bt3 million.

Police recovered the cash and gold after a break-in at Suphoth's home, which coincided with the wedding of his daughter. Although Suphoth reported that Bt5 million had been stolen, and that this money was a wedding gift, the recovered loot exceeded his claim.

A gang of burglars allegedly stole Bt100 million in cash from his Bangkok home in November. Police retrieved some Bt20 million of the cash - an amount much larger than the Bt5 million that Suphoth initially told police about.

Based on his 36 asset statements filed while in office from 2001 to 2011, Suphoth reported his net worth at Bt65 million.

The NACC found his wealth to be unusual, taking into consideration that he entered the civil service in 1977 with a starting salary of Bt1,750.

In his defence, Suphoth said his income from the civil service totalled Bt4.9 million in 34 years. He also earned Bt9.6 million from a second job as an engineering consultant, working part-time for 16 years, from 1982 to 1998. His total earnings amounted to Bt21 million. But this fell far short of the Bt65 million net worth. A Bt44 million gap was found between his earnings and actual net worth.

After examining the asset statements and other properties uncovered in Suphoth's names, the NACC named Bt64 million as ill-gotten gains because there was no evidence to verify how the assets came into his possession.

The unusual wealth included Bt55 million held in four accounts and six plots worth Bt7.8 million.

The case will be further investigated and if Suphoth is convicted of graft, he will face criminal sentences.

-- The Nation 2012-07-25

[chotthee]

"A gang of burglars allegedly stole Bt100 million in cash from his Bangkok home in November."

And only 64.7 confiscated? Common, do the maths.

[AyG]

The headline (once again) is very misleading. Not a single Baht has been seized so far. Only a request for seizure has been made.

[geriatrickid]

Why not look at his income tax returns. If he was making all this money, then surely as a law abiding civil servant, he was declaring his income on his income tax return abd paying his taxes, right?

If he was not paying taxes, why isn't he prosecuted accordingly? if this person was a tax evader and nothing is done, what message is being given?

[Bluespunk]

"A gang of burglars allegedly stole Bt100 million in cash from his Bangkok home in November."

And only 64.7 confiscated? Common, do the maths.

Yes, but only 20 million recovered. The other 80 million still out there somewhere. Guess you could say that it has already been confiscated.

[ratcatcher]

Why not look at his income tax returns. If he was making all this money, then surely as a law abiding civil servant, he was declaring his income on his income tax return abd paying his taxes, right?

If he was not paying taxes, why isn't he prosecuted accordingly? if this person was a tax evader and nothing is done, what message is being given?

"a law abiding civil servant".....Oxy + moron?

[trainman34014]

This Guy should be number one on a long list of people who should be investigated but hey; this is Thailand where most probably the investigators are amassing ill-gotten gains themselves as they investigate other people !

[Moruya]

Why not look at his income tax returns. If he was making all this money, then surely as a law abiding civil servant, he was declaring his income on his income tax return abd paying his taxes, right?

If he was not paying taxes, why isn't he prosecuted accordingly? if this person was a tax evader and nothing is done, what message is being given?

Thaksin was his hero

[Thai at Heart]

They nicked 100mn, but his officially stated wealth was 65mn.

Arent there 2 different issues here, one is that he has declared wealth of 44mn more than he earned, but if he has 100mn under his bed, so one would think, they are only scratching the surface.

[Robby nz]

I wondered at the time if the 100 mill he had at his home was in fact the Xmas bonuses for the whole department.

This would explain why his boss was so shocked when it dissapeared, he would miss out on his no doubt large share some or all of which could have been already spent.

[skills32]

If had 100m baht under the bed and he thought that the NACC were delving into his affairs, then it would make sense to organize a burglary but only declare only 5 million stolen.

You have to think these things through carefully.

It would appear that a lot of sub plots exist in the main ploy.

Life is difficult in Thailand for those who have a lot of money that can't be accounted for.

Serves him right.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Life is difficult in Thailand for those who have a lot of money that can't be accounted for.

Serves him right.

Surely you jest.

Sarcasm does not not come across so easily when written.

If you are not joking, then I can tell you that life in Thailand for those who DO have a lot of money that cannot be accounted for is actually quite good.

Supoth's (Supoj?) problem is that he got caught. That is quite rare. Getting a real criminal conviction, even rarer.

Say, once in a blue moon.

[drdoom6996]

Engineering consultand = Middle man

[kimamey]

Why not look at his income tax returns. If he was making all this money, then surely as a law abiding civil servant, he was declaring his income on his income tax return abd paying his taxes, right?

If he was not paying taxes, why isn't he prosecuted accordingly? if this person was a tax evader and nothing is done, what message is being given?

Very good point.

[sdoc]

He should have atleast done some simple math before calling the BIB and took the loss rather than losing it all and facing criminal charges som nam na

[belg]

where can i apply for the job ? 100 millions seem nice as a salary for a few years of ... grabbing

[Narratio]

Life is difficult in Thailand for those who have a lot of money that can't be accounted for.

I must agree with you. The little people have no idea how hard live is for the rich and corrupt. There's all that palm greasing, butt kissing and vote buying to do, every single day! And THEN there is the paperwork! Some to sign or file, some to misfile, some to loose, some to forge, some to modify or change and then there's the whole fold, spindle or mutilate thing... If only the little people understood exactly how many hours one had to spend in bars, nightclubs, massage parlors and police stations talking to low life scum and politicians... but I repeat my self... The amount of hours it takes to get the average shady land use documentation made, approved and initiated is enormous and don't talk about infrastruture contracts for roads, airports etc.

Really, my hearts bleeds for them. Bleeds I tell you!

(Nurse! More Medication please!)

Edited July 25, 2012 by Narratio

[brucegoniners]

Hasn't this idiot ever heard of a bank?

[BrianCR]

Why not look at his income tax returns. If he was making all this money, then surely as a law abiding civil servant, he was declaring his income on his income tax return abd paying his taxes, right?

If he was not paying taxes, why isn't he prosecuted accordingly? if this person was a tax evader and nothing is done, what message is being given?

Thaksin was his hero

Didn't take long for some dipstick to bring Thaksin into the thread!

[Fozfromoz]

You would think with all of that folding stuff laying about, perhaps the purchase of a floor safe may have been in order, paid for in cash, untraceable of course.

[Keesters]

Might be time to for him to buy (and use) a ticket to Dubai......

Although I hear Montenegro is nice this time of year

hehehe

[brianb1944]

Hasn't this idiot ever heard of a bank?

and trustworthy nominees

[AyG]

Hasn't this idiot ever heard of a bank?

and trustworthy nominees

One version of the story is that Suphoth was the "trustworthy nominee" - it wasn't his money; he was holding it for a bigger fish.

[Pops]

"A gang of burglars allegedly stole Bt100 million in cash from his Bangkok home in November."

And only 64.7 confiscated? Common, do the maths.

Read the whole article and it will become clear.

Do not forget that it reads: allegedly stole Bt100 million in cash from his Bangkok home.

"alledgedly" !!!

[Pops]

They nicked 100mn, but his officially stated wealth was 65mn.

Arent there 2 different issues here, one is that he has declared wealth of 44mn more than he earned, but if he has 100mn under his bed, so one would think, they are only scratching the surface.

They "allegedly" nicked 100 Mln.

With emphasis on allegedly.