CORRUPTION

Sorrayuth a no-show at House fraud hearing

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- TV news-programme host Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda yesterday failed to appear before a House panel to answer allegations of fraud levelled against his production company, Rai Som.

The House panel on political media development and public participation held a meeting chaired by Democrat party-list MP Watchara Petthong to discuss alleged fraudulent transactions between Rai Som and broadcaster MCOT, which is majority owned by the state.

The meeting was told that Sorrayuth had not received the panel's summons. He is now scheduled to clarify his response to the allegations on November 1.

Orawan Chudee, chairman of the MCOT labour union, said the alleged offences took place before she was appointed. She had requested information about the incident and found that MCOT had broadcast commercials more often than allowed for in its agreement with Rai Som. Sorrayuth is accused of extracting extra fees from MCOT by airing surplus advertising during two shows his firm produced for MCOT nine years ago.

The union has already imposed disciplinary penalties on those officials involved, Orawan said.

Atcha Suwanpakpraek, deputy managing director of Channel 3, said the channel has not dropped Sorrayuth's current programme from its schedule because, while the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had found there are grounds to suspect wrongdoing, the case has yet to be ruled on by the Criminal Court.

If the channel removed the show and the court ruled in Sorrayuth's favour, the channel would be in the wrong, Atcha said. Once the court case is closed, Sorrayuth will know what his next move is and the channel can take action if need be, he said.

NACC deputy secretary-general Wachira Sa-ngobpan said the commission would file its complaint in Sorrayuth's case with the Office of the Attorney General, seeking an indictment.

Thanachai Wongthongsri, vice president of MCOT Plc, explained that Rai Som's counter-suit accuses MCOT of over-airing the commercials, and called for all commercial fees to be shared. He said the firms had agreed to 50:50 profit sharing on commercial fees, and to have 10 minutes of commercials every hour.

He said he believed Sorrayuth tried to get MCOT to pay for an extra two and a half minutes of commercials per hour.

Meanwhile, Pol Captain Purachai Piumsomboon, chief adviser to the Rak Santi Party, said at the meeting that Channel 3 should review its stance on the action to be taken against Sorrayuth. He said ethical standards should be set higher for media professionals than for those in other industries. He disapproved of what he described as the channel's disregard of media ethics and codes of conduct in handling the alleged graft offences against Sorrayuth.

-- The Nation 2012-10-25

he didnt receive the summons?

they know someone where he is at least 10 hours a day doing live TV.

More ducking an weaving...

No doubt following the example of the Red Bull child, I'm big you can't touch me.,

Meanwhile, Pol Captain Purachai Piumsomboon, chief adviser to the Rak Santi Party, said at the meeting that Channel 3 should review its stance on the action to be taken against Sorrayuth. He said ethical standards should be set higher for media professionals than for those in other industries

Perhaps if we set ethical standards higher for policemen and politicians criminal cases on others could be brought with a modicum of credibility.