B200k allocated to tracking down ex-politician

[Lite Beer]

B200k allocated to tracking down ex-politician

BANGKOK: The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has set a budget of just under B200,000 to track down and arrest former politician and fugitive Vatana Asavahame who is reportedly in hiding in Cambodia, where he owns the Poipet Casino Resort.

The proposed budget was unveiled yesterday (July 25) when Wuthipong Wiboonwong, deputy attorney general, asked the House panel to deliberate the 2014 annual budget.

A source on the panel said the OAG on June 24 approved a B194,900 budget to locate and detain former deputy interior minister Vatana, who was sentenced in absentia in 2008 by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders to 10 years in jail for land purchase corruption.

He was found guilty in the land scandal over the Klong Dan wastewater-treatment project in Samut Prakan, whereby the state was cheated out of B18 billion.

Vatana was also at one time president of the Thai Rak Thai Party, and head of the Peua Paendin Party.

The source noted that the OAG had not, however, allocated funds to find and arrest former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced in absentia by the same court to two years in jail.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/b200k-allocated-to-tracking-down-ex-politician-41009.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2013-07-26

[trainman34014]

And what's the budget for 'tracking down' the other wanted criminal who lives in Dubai ? Why should he be left out ?

Edited July 26, 2013 by trainman34014

[bigbamboo]

Surely it would be cheaper and easier to find that other fugitive politician sentenced to jail for land purchase corruption, considering they already know where he lives?

[ggold]

And what's the budget for 'tracking down' the other wanted criminal who lives in Dubai ? Why should he be left out ?

it might be more a question of how much of the anual budget can be syphoned off rather than being allocated to finding the person in dubai!

[sjjmmi]

They would need to budget B 200 bln for some one in Dubai

[chainarong]

And what's the budget for 'tracking down' the other wanted criminal who lives in Dubai ? Why should he be left out ?

One wounders how they think, they must think everyone except them is an idiot

[tomross46]

We all like a good joke. 200,000 Baht will only cover the expenses for a one day trip to the casino.

[ginjag]

Looks like double standards in the OAG. We now know what the game is, can get some and not others---optional????? or please inform if there is reason why everyone cannot be tracked down. Something smells AGAIN here.

[Thai at Heart]

That won't even cover the bribes to get him out of Cambodian immigration

[lee b]

You should really think of a new figure, as 200,000 is not enough.

[Payboy]

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has set a budget of just under B200,000 to track down and arrest former politician and fugitive Vatana Asavahame who is reportedly in hiding in Cambodia, where he owns the Poipet Casino Resort.

Just Baht 200K ! They can send a lackey to hang around nursing a latte in Starbucks at one of the two 5-star hospitals everyday and hope he shows up for a wart removal or something, sometime in the next 5 years.

[slapout]

Vatana must have health problems and wants to come back and reside next door to Poh, at the accomadations provided by the state. He is on several blacklists for drug involvement so he may be limited as to where he can travel to get medical care.

It would seem the government considers all funds collected for Thailand, have to be individually alloted on a want, need basis. Wonder how much groverling and diliberation fee are expected by those on top of this pile of manure.

[Neilly]

Vatana must have health problems and wants to come back and reside next door to Poh, at the accomadations provided by the state. He is on several blacklists for drug involvement so he may be limited as to where he can travel to get medical care.

If he got away with Bt 18 billion (577,926,000 US Dollar) am pretty sure he can go where he likes

He was found guilty in the land scandal over the Klong Dan wastewater-treatment project in Samut Prakan, whereby the state was cheated out of B18 billion.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Neilly

[NongKhaiKid]

Sorry to be slow about this but I thought the Shinawatra's etc were big pals with the Cambodians and since the fugitive owns a casino it would seem reasonable he could be located if somebody really wanted it done.

Given his past political affiliations it seems this is just another " going through the motions " exercise to make it look good. I know governments post rewards for information on wanted people but setting a budget for his arrest is nonsense. If I was Thai I would get really annoyed at how my government continually insults my intelligence with crap like this but there again how many Thais think about these things ?

[kimincm]

What happens when the money runs out,come home and forget it?

[55Jay]

Vatana must have health problems and wants to come back and reside next door to Poh, at the accomadations provided by the state. He is on several blacklists for drug involvement so he may be limited as to where he can travel to get medical care.

If he got away with Bt 18 billion (577,926,000 US Dollar) am pretty sure he can go where he likes

He was found guilty in the land scandal over the Klong Dan wastewater-treatment project in Samut Prakan, whereby the state was cheated out of B18 billion.

+1 to that.

Won't last long though. Bangkok Bank Out of Province ATM charges must be eating him alive.

[worgeordie]

Send in Dog the bounty hunter,everyone knows where he is ,why the need to throw money at it,

unless its spending money for the Casino.

regards Worgeordie

[Misterwhisper]

"The source noted that the OAG had not, however, allocated funds to find and arrest former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced in absentia by the same court to two years in jail."

Very telling. So, next time you claim there are no double standards deployed by state authorities, please allow us to roll on the floor in laughter for a few minutes.

And what? A whole 200,000 Baht (approx. $6,500; another reason for a ROFL) to "locate" Vatana? Just ask around in Poipet, where every other bloke on the street knows that the fugitive is hiding out in style and luxury at his very own casino.

[monkey4u]

We all like a good joke. 200,000 Baht will only cover the expenses for a one day trip to the casino.

But if we run 200,000 baht through the the tables and pokies that is not our's.Maybe we get lucky

[DGIE]

The ex politician has 18 Billion? He change his face in that amount

[ratcatcher]

Vatana Asavahome, Somchai Ididcomehome and Thaksin IWannacomehome. akaThe Three Stooges.

I think Vatana will be insulted when he hears he's got a bounty of only B200,000 on his head.

[ratcatcher]

The ex politician has 18 Billion? He change his face in that amount

With a face like his in the above post, there's a good case for him to lose face rather than change it.

[thhMan]

It sounds like the Thai circus is back in town.....

How will the world take this seriously when even us expats see it as a joke?

[GeorgeO]

And what's the budget for 'tracking down' the other wanted criminal who lives in Dubai ? Why should he be left out ?

it might be more a question of how much of the anual budget can be syphoned off rather than being allocated to finding the person in dubai!

I very much doubt that has anything to do with it ... they are talking here about a paltry 200K, not 200M.

[noitom]

How hypocritical and preposterous of Thais by putting a bounty on the head of one convicted politician in a swindle while another calls in and Skypes in for political rallies and birthdays, and meetings with other corrupted big men in Hong Kong and other places.

[rametindallas]

If they would make the reward condition, "Dead or Alive" it might be affordable to bring him back to Thailand.

[jpduggan]

A budget of B200k about 5000euros? They mustn't want him too bad.

[Salapoo]

200k??

Barely the downpayment on the Benz they need for transportation to and from the meetings. They must be disgusted by this slap in the face.

[55Jay]

A budget of B200k about 5000euros? They mustn't want him too bad.

It's the thought that counts. At least he got a mention on a budget line item. Uncle T should feel slighted, he didn't even get a mention. Who's the "bad guy" now?

[poooket]

So lets say this 200k covers the flight tickets for a couple of BiB a night stay in a hotel and a few bottles of whiskey. Then what? Case closed?