Thammasat University Lecturer Denies Knowledge Of Ill-Gotten Gains: Graft

[webfact]

GRAFT
Prof denies knowledge of ill-gotten gains
Atapoom Ongkulne,
Chuleeporn Aramnate
The Nation


File photo : Sombat

BANGKOK: -- Thammasat University lecturer Sombat Chantarawong yesterday told the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) he got involved in business transactions of an unusually wealthy general's family without knowing that these funds had been gained illegally.

Sombat had read the same statement to the press on Wednesday.

The lecturer told the NACC that he had agreed to let Natnicha, the wife of General Satien Permthong-in, a former permanent secretary for Defence, deposit Bt18 million in his account in 2011 without asking where the money came from.

Sombat said he was not close to Satien and that Natnicha had sought his help claiming that she was having problems with her husband. He added that Satien had not become permanent secretary of the ministry that year and he thought Natnicha had earned the money from her business.

Natnicha later withdrew the money to invest in property and used his name as a business partner, claiming this way Satien would have no rights to the asset.

The property was later sold and Natnicha gave him a cheque from Siam Global House, which had bought the plot, on grounds that he was a partner. Sombat said he deposited the cheque with the Thammasat University Cooperative, because it was the most convenient way for him to cash it and hand the money over to Natnicha.

Speaking to reporters later, Sombat said that after NACC held a press conference on Tuesday to allege that he was involved in irregular transactions of the Permthong-in family, Natnicha and her daughter, Nichapat, had called him to apologise for causing problems.

Sombat said he was not angry with anybody and was confident that he could defend himself.

He said he would like the court to rule on the case soon so he can find out if the family had deceived him. Sombat added that he would submit his resignation next Wednesday, with effect from the end of April, as he had to grade his students first. He said he would not be giving up his professorship because His Majesty the King had granted the title.

On Tuesday, the NACC decided to freeze Satien's assets worth Bt65 million pending judicial review.

Sombat said the NACC did not ask him to provide more information or submit more evidence in his defence. He said he would like the NACC to unfreeze his bank account with Bt607,736 in it because it was not related to Natnicha's assets and that he had evidence to prove that the money in the account was his own.

Thammasat University rector Somkit Lertpaithoon said he was glad that Sombat was taking responsibility and maintaining high standards befitting an academic who is also a social critic. However, he said, academic ranks cannot be returned because they are earned and one can only lose them when the positions are withdrawn.


-- The Nation 2013-03-01

[ChrisY1]

A likely excuse.....back-pedalling as fast as he can.

I think I would ask if someone deposited Bt18 m into my account, unless it was genuinely mentioned that it was a gift and from a close friend....bank accounts have numbers which need to be quoted to enable deposits...

And then use the funds......an immature defence in my opinion....from a professor.

[PoodMaiDai]

....from a professor.

That pretty much sums it all up.

[smutcakes]

The one thing that speaks volumes is that when a case like this does come out, all the wind bags in the police, army, government, DSI etc suddenly shut up when they normally have a comment on everything and anything. i wonder why

[chooka]

Come people look at that face how could you not believe him?

[Jane Doe]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?
A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

[Considered Opinion]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

[Pimay1]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

[OzMick]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

Money laundering seems to be a hard concept for Thais to grasp, even when they are directly involved with it. Take the young lady I referred to earlier:

"Wasa is the secretary to the House committee on anti-money laundering........." yet thought transferring funds for another person to an unknown 3rd party was OK.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[Stradavarius37]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

My students with degrees from Mahidol have been accepted in many great universities across, US, Europe, Australia, etc, with no problems, and no problems "Accepting their credentials" (The people who spout this have yet to suggest what that even means...). Most university lecturers here are average or below average, some are pretty good, a few are excellent, a few are terrible - but painting everything black is untrue.

Edited March 1, 2013 by Stradavarius37

[Pimay1]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

My students with degrees from Mahidol have been accepted in many great universities across, US, Europe, Australia, etc, with no problems, and no problems "Accepting their credentials" (The people who spout this have yet to suggest what that even means...). Most university lecturers here are average or below average, some are pretty good, a few are excellent, a few are terrible - but painting everything black is untrue.

I stand corrected my friend. I do not wish to paint all with the same brush. Should have said some graduates. My old gf's daughter went to a uni and received her nursing degree. Works in a hospital in Bangkok that I cannot pronounce the name. My daughter in the US is also a nurse and in my opinion there is not a dimes worth of difference in their knowledge.

[Bagwan]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

Why no mention of something really important and close to our hearts namely tight shirts and abbreviated skirts? Please revise your priorities.

[Pimay1]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

Why no mention of something really important and close to our hearts namely tight shirts and abbreviated skirts? Please revise your priorities.

Excuse the hell out of me. The old gf caught me watching the video with the four sexy girls this morning and reminded me of the straight razor in her bra pouch. Haven't been myself all day . I'll try to do better.

[tragickingdom]

Ich habe es nicht gewüst. After all, how can a professor know that a general can drive a Benz which is more using on petrol than he earns and spend millions of dollars on property all from a 60.000 THB monthly salary.

Besides the professor is a good Christian and it happened before when some chap fed hundreds of people with just one bottle of wine and a loaf of bread.

[Ian Curtis]

Q: How do you call a Thai person with an IQ of 70?

A: Professor

Interesting to see that at least he can prove that 600k out of his 65 millions are his own.

Oh, ye, of little faith

I wonder why other countries don't accept credentials from graduates of Thai universities? The lecturers/professors are world class. Slapping women around in public, innocently assisting in millions of Baht bank transfers without asking any questions, selling diplomas.

My students with degrees from Mahidol have been accepted in many great universities across, US, Europe, Australia, etc, with no problems, and no problems "Accepting their credentials" (The people who spout this have yet to suggest what that even means...). Most university lecturers here are average or below average, some are pretty good, a few are excellent, a few are terrible - but painting everything black is untrue.

Question: I thought that I read in the BP the other day that he isn't a real prof - he holds an honorary professorship. Am I correct?

[Joe Mamma]

Paper trails, they are all over these here parts.

[kimamey]

....from a professor.

That pretty much sums it all up.

It doesn't look like this will improve the image of Thai universities very much does it?

[Jim walker]

Professor or not he is an unwise criminal laundering money
for a generals wife and should have his assets seized and confiscated by the
state, if they are ever going to even attempt to cut out the cancer of corruption
in Thailand they have to clamp down on the General’s, professors, politicians,
police just treat them with the same contempt any criminal should have.

[Fozfromoz]

Surely his pants have to be on fire?