Four high-profile figures who fled convictions

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The former chief of the Tambon San Suek administration in Chon Buri, Somchai Khunpluem, who was rounded up yesterday, is one of two major political figures convicted of corruption to be arrested, while two are still at large.

Former health minister Rakkiat Sukthana was the first Thai minister to serve a jail term for corruption. He was sentenced to 15 years after being convicted of extorting Bt5 million in bribes from pharmaceutical companies in a drug-procurement scam.

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Rakkiat eluded police for one year and one month before being nabbed on October 30, 2004 while jogging in a public park. He reportedly needed to exercise as he suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes. Although he attempted to disguise himself by placing a large artificial mole above his lip, people recognised him and tipped off police.

Rakkiat was released on October 29, 2009 after serving one third of his jail term. His time was reduced on grounds of good behaviour, for which he was classified in the best grade of prisoner. He was ordained and has remained in the monkhood since his release from prison.

Somchai fled two criminal convictions. The first was a corruption case in which he was sentenced to five years and four months in prison in connection with the purchase of land for a garbage dump in Pattaya municipality.

In another case, he was convicted of masterminding the murder of Prayoon Sithichok, a local leader in Chon Buri, and was sentenced to 28 years and four months in prison.

Former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame is still at large after being sentenced to 10 years in jail on August 18, 2008 following his conviction for abusing his authority in relation to the Klong Tan wastewater-treatment plant project. He was last seen in public on June 29, 2008 at the wedding of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin's son.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra fled a two-year jail term in the Ratchadapisek land-purchase case after a court found him guilty of abuse of authority on October 21, 2008.

-- The Nation 2013-01-31

At least idiot Thaksin was smart enough to get out of the country. Most Thais though I've noticed, once left Thailand, always seem to come back. Whether they get married to a foreigner and move to their newlywed's country of origin, or head out to university to study and find success, or rip off their fellow countrymen like the crooks in the article, most of them just....come back.

Only 4? What about the rest...

Shouldnt Chalerm be on that list, didnt he run away from an investigation into his extraordinary wealth?

But no thats not correct he ran from political oppression, he said so.

What about the recent hit and run cop killing in Thonglor by the Ferrari? Last the newspaper said anything was the police had issued a second warrant for the arrest of the Red Bull heir and police had promised to "wrap up" the case last September. The lack of follow up by police and stifling of all news is a clear example of Thai lawbreaking with impunity for privileged class and those in position of wealth and authority.

How long bfore a judge will grant bail for "Kamnan Poh" or will he be released because of medical reasons?

Surely, Raluek Leekpai deserves an honourable mention here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuan_Leekpai#Raluek_Leekpai_Scandal

Former health minister Rakkiat Sukthana was the first Thai minister to serve a jail term for corruption.

Rakkiat eluded police for one year and one month before being nabbed on October 30, 2004 while jogging in a public park.

Rakkiat was released on October 29, 2009

He was ordained and has remained in the monkhood since his release from prison.

There's a lesson in that for the remaining fugitive convicted politicians mentioned in the OP.

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Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Buchholz

What about the recent hit and run cop killing in Thonglor by the Ferrari? Last the newspaper said anything was the police had issued a second warrant for the arrest of the Red Bull heir and police had promised to "wrap up" the case last September. The lack of follow up by police and stifling of all news is a clear example of Thai lawbreaking with impunity for privileged class and those in position of wealth and authority.

Being the optimist that I am I don't see this ever happening but it would be so refreshing to have an actual honest to goodness investigative reporter on the Nation staff. Now when a story breaks that is usually the last we hear about it. I suppose these so called reporters are afraid to go below the surface of any story for fear of .................You can fill in the blanks.

What about the recent hit and run cop killing in Thonglor by the Ferrari? Last the newspaper said anything was the police had issued a second warrant for the arrest of the Red Bull heir and police had promised to "wrap up" the case last September. The lack of follow up by police and stifling of all news is a clear example of Thai lawbreaking with impunity for privileged class and those in position of wealth and authority.

Being the optimist that I am I don't see this ever happening but it would be so refreshing to have an actual honest to goodness investigative reporter on the Nation staff. Now when a story breaks that is usually the last we hear about it. I suppose these so called reporters are afraid to go below the surface of any story for fear of .................You can fill in the blanks.

Why keep asking for something that will never happen, its like asking for a date with Pancake the actress, never happen

What about the recent hit and run cop killing in Thonglor by the Ferrari? Last the newspaper said anything was the police had issued a second warrant for the arrest of the Red Bull heir and police had promised to "wrap up" the case last September. The lack of follow up by police and stifling of all news is a clear example of Thai lawbreaking with impunity for privileged class and those in position of wealth and authority.

Being the optimist that I am I don't see this ever happening but it would be so refreshing to have an actual honest to goodness investigative reporter on the Nation staff. Now when a story breaks that is usually the last we hear about it. I suppose these so called reporters are afraid to go below the surface of any story for fear of .................You can fill in the blanks.

Why keep asking for something that will never happen, its like asking for a date with Pancake the actress, never happen

Noted.

Thai society is very accepting, very lax, relaxed, tolerant although likely somewhat based upon incompetency.

Just look at how tolerant Pattaya is.

Good thinking on the part of the Nation- guilty by association never fails to impress some- So this article which manages to associate Thaksin with Kamnan Poh should be studied by all aspiring propagandists.

I doubt the next time a rich kid drives his Porsche over a poor(er) person we will open our daily Nation to an article entitled "Five other High Profile Figures Who Escaped Conviction'-- unless of course in the interim, Thaksin should back his RR out of his Dubai garage over a street vendor- ...

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by blaze

Being the optimist that I am I don't see this ever happening but it would be so refreshing to have an actual honest to goodness investigative reporter on the Nation staff. Now when a story breaks that is usually the last we hear about it. I suppose these so called reporters are afraid to go below the surface of any story for fear of .................You can fill in the blanks.

Indeed Bang Bang fever tends to be incurable the root cause of this fatal infection is sadly to date never been found.

Being investigative in the fourth estate here can and does as as happened in the past get you your own piece of real estate, dimensions as follows. 6 x 6 x 4..

The last post doesn't refer to a newspapers name nor the last mail delivery either.

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by siampolee

Good thinking on the part of the Nation- guilty by association never fails to impress some- So this article which manages to associate Thaksin with Kamnan Poh should be studied by all aspiring propagandists.

I doubt the next time a rich kid drives his Porsche over a poor(er) person we will open our daily Nation to an article entitled "Five other High Profile Figures Who Escaped Conviction'-- unless of course in the interim, Thaksin should back his RR out of his Dubai garage over a street vendor- ...

Well you only have to look at the headline which mentions 'high-profile'. Any reading of guilt-by-association is in the mind of the reader. Not defending the Red Bull heir in any way, but he didn't really have a high profile.

.double post deleted

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Buchholz

Good thinking on the part of the Nation- guilty by association never fails to impress some- So this article which manages to associate Thaksin with Kamnan Poh should be studied by all aspiring propagandists.

I doubt the next time a rich kid drives his Porsche over a poor(er) person we will open our daily Nation to an article entitled "Five other High Profile Figures Who Escaped Conviction'-- unless of course in the interim, Thaksin should back his RR out of his Dubai garage over a street vendor- ...

There are a number of unnecessary postings on the aspect.

The content of who the author means in his article is laid out in the very first paragraph, in bold even, when the "Four High-Profile Figures" of the headline are ALL identified as politicians.

The former chief of the Tambon San Suek administration in Chon Buri, Somchai Khunpluem, who was rounded up yesterday, is one of two major political figures convicted of corruption to be arrested, while two are still at large.

It's not that difficult to insert, on your own, the missing word in the thread title that exists in the first paragraph.

Four High-Profile Political Figures Who Fled Convictions: Thailand

Obviously, there are dozens of other, non-political figures, like the Porsche driver, who have also not faced the music... and there's dozens of threads on them.

The author has simply chosen to focus, on those particular occasion, on those with "politician" on their resume.

btw, Thaksin is associated with Kamnan Poh.

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Edited January 31, 201313 yr by Buchholz

And if Thaksin had not been eligible for this list- this list would not have been published- not hidden, just not worth the ink.

Edited January 31, 201313 yr by blaze

money talks, criminals walk(s)

And if Thaksin had not been eligible for this list- this list would not have been published- not hidden, just not worth the ink.

Not necessarily.

In their own right, the issues of the other three named, Somchai Khunpluem, Rakkiat Sukthana, Vatana Asavahame, have generated a lot of press and on the forum, hundreds of posts with thousands of views.

Thaksin is justifiably included with those three as they all share the commonality of being high-profile political figures who at some point fled Thailand.

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