Former Thai Ministers Report Their Assets One Year On

[webfact]

Former ministers report their assets one year on
Anuphan Chantana,
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Former defence minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha owns 204 amulets and 455 Buddha statutes worth more than Bt49 million in total.

Details of Yuthasak's Buddha collection were made public yesterday when the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) announced assets statements of nine former Cabinet members exactly one year since they left office.

Yuthasak told the NACC that he had collected up to 204 amulets over the years from 1937 to 1997, and they are worth a total of Bt29 million. He also reported that he owned 455 Buddha statues worth Bt20.4 million and some had been given to him by his father. The former defence minister also stated in his assets statement that he has six pairs of ivory tusks worth Bt600,000.

Former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan is another former Cabinet member who appears to have an outstanding collection. His assets are eight Patek Philippe watches worth Bt9.35 million, while his wife owns a jewellery set with rubies worth Bt1.5 million, ornaments decorated with diamonds worth Bt4million, a jade brooch worth Bt400,000 and a 10-karat diamond ring worth Bt4.5 million.

Former deputy education minister Surapong Ueng-ampornvilai has reported a collection of semi-automatic pistols, including a .45-mm semi-automatic pistol worth Bt90,000, a 9mm Beretta pistol worth Bt60,000, and two other 9mm automatic pistols worth Bt120,000 each.

Former finance minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala has a collection of 32 paintings worth a total of Bt10 million. He also reported that he owns 25 antiques worth Bt2.2 million.

According to the NACC, the wealth of nine former Cabinet members has grown since they left their posts, while seven have seen a drop in assets.

While others' assets changed by a few million baht or so, Yuthasak had declared net assets worth Bt380 million, which fell to Bt312 million one year on. Details show that the drop in Yuthasak's assets include cash, land and construction work.


-- The Nation 2013-03-15

[MaxLee]

A crisis happens, ministers step down, to save face, and are getting unusually rewarded... Oops

Edited March 15, 2013 by MaxLee

[Locationthailand]

Can anyone believe this BS? These guys own all this trinket rubbish and of course guns. But then the questions begs, if a man has USD10+M why would he want a job in parliament - but of course, we all know the answer to that. And the drop in assets? That is because some of them have shifted offshore.

[NongKhaiKid]

Does the declaration include the bank accounts of domestic staff, security guards and all those held in the name of Daisy the family carabao ?

[dcutman]

It would be interesting to see how many MP's have interest in rice mills or grain storage facilities.

[OzMick]

General Yuthasak Sasiprapha should learn the difference between "valued at" and "worth".

[ChinChanGamble]

While you all get on a high horse, do any of you know of a poor politician and one that doesn't do well even after they have left office?? No matter what the reason??

[bigbamboo]

I'd love to see how Tarit is doing on the wealth front these days.

[clockman]

Its the undeclared assets that matter, the public will never know that!

[nevets]

Very well i would think.

[Moruya]

Superstition and politics shouldn't be mixed

[WhizBang]

Ok, so that's the official declaration of assets.

What about the real list of assets that never get shown? You know, the second set of books.

This would be a good project for some real investigative journalism. Any takers?

Edited March 15, 2013 by WhizBang

[smedly]

Does anyone actually believe any of it

Check the relatives and the gardener and don't forget to look under the bed

another complete pile of <deleted>

[hellodolly]

Didn't bother with the article.

Did those figures include the money in their closets at home?

[smutcakes]

These are all complete rubbish. There is little doubt that many on all sides of the political divide, not to mention the police, army generals etc make a huge amount of money illicitly whilst in power or all the time. However despite how incompetent they may be, it is doubtful they are going to file returns which they cannot justify should they actually need to. All of the ill gotten gains would not be declared- futile exercise really in even declaring them.

[A Member]

Does the declaration include the bank accounts of domestic staff, security guards and all those held in the name of Daisy the family carabao ?

When the government archivist stores these reports do the go into the section marked Pure Fiction ?

[Baerboxer]

I'd love to see how Tarit is doing on the wealth front these days.

I think the expression here would be "unusually" !

[billd766]

While you all get on a high horse, do any of you know of a poor politician and one that doesn't do well even after they have left office?? No matter what the reason??

I do believe that Chuan Leekpai was/is the poorest PM/politician in Thaland. when he left to PM office he had about 5M baht and debts of some of that.

However I wouldn't know where to look on the internet for confirmation.

[belg]

how does a general accumulate 300+ millions ? does the office pay that good

a yes, bribes left, ang pao right, weekly and monthly payments ...

[bigbamboo]

Ok, so that's the official declaration of assets.

What about the real list of assets that never get shown? You know, the second set of books.

This would be a good project for some real investigative journalism. Any takers?

You could call them the 'Putin Edition'.

[khunken]

Does anyone actually believe any of it

Check the relatives and the gardener and don't forget to look under the bed

another complete pile of <deleted>

Yes. Wonder how many 'honest mistakes' are included?

[HaleySabai]

Former ministers report their assets one year on

....."The whole Truth and nothing but the truth.......so help me"????

[Wombat6]

I wonder how many of these guys would be willing to have a polygraph test over their statements....and how come the one of these guys is claiming he has Ivory Tusks worth 600,000 baht? Wouldn't they be worthless now that Thailand is supposed to be banning Ivory trading....who would he be selling them to....wouldn't that be Illegal ??

[hellodolly]

I wonder how many of these guys would be willing to have a polygraph test over their statements....and how come the one of these guys is claiming he has Ivory Tusks worth 600,000 baht? Wouldn't they be worthless now that Thailand is supposed to be banning Ivory trading....who would he be selling them to....wouldn't that be Illegal ??

Only if you are below a certain income level. Above that level any thing is legal.