Bangkok fire truck scandal: AMLO to size up assets of Pracha, ex-official

[webfact]

FIRE TRUCK SCANDAL
AMLO to size up assets of Pracha, ex-official
The Nation



Agency chief says graft gains could be seized, pending study of ruling

BANGKOK: -- THE Anti-Money Laundering Office will evaluate assets belonging to former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont and a former senior Bangkok Metropolitan Administration official before pursuing possible seizure if they are found to have been acquired illegally, after both were sentenced on charges of bid-rigging in the fire vehicles case by a court on Tuesday.

Secretary-general Seehanat Prayoonrat said the AMLO needed to study the ruling by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Person Holding Political Positions to see whether it had issued any sanction on both men's assets. If so, the agency will act to seize the illegally acquired assets belonging to both the convicted, whether the assets were in Thailand or overseas.

A deputy AMLO secretary-general had earlier said that the Bt6.68 billion paid by the BMA for a large number of unused fire vehicles to a foreign manufacturer could be entirely retrieved through a seizure authorised by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), whereas the AMLO could seize only money or assets acquired through wrongdoing by convicted criminals.

While AMLO has the authority to order seizure of money or assets belonging to convicted criminals that was acquired through their wrongdoings, the NACC can seize entire amounts of cash, profits or assets to make up for losses through corruption. The NACC can file criminal or civil lawsuits, explained Suwanee Sawaengphol.

The NACC yesterday did not respond to Suwanee's comments. It also made no statement on any plan to retrieve the Bt6.68 billion paid for the fire vehicles. On Tuesday, Pracha was sentenced to a 12-year prison term for his role in the 2004 purchase of the fire and rescue vehicles and equipment for the BMA.

Both agencies also did not state yesterday what action they might take against Pracha, and former senior BMA official Athilak Tanchookiat, who has been sentenced to 10 years, in terms of seeking compensation.

Even if the NACC takes action over the Bt6.68 billion, it will certainly be difficult for Thai authorities to reclaim the money, as there has been strong resistance through civil countersuits from Austrian manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG & Co KG, which assembled and sold the fire vehicles to the BMA.

Foreign Ministry awaits request

The Foreign Ministry is awaiting a written request from agencies authorised to seek the arrest of Pracha, who is believed to have fled overseas, said deputy ministry spokesman Jakkrit Srivali. He said the immigration police would know where Pracha was now, from his latest visa stamps. Pracha's passport would expire on March 18, 2017, he added.

The 315 fire trucks and 30 fire boats sit unused at two locations in Nonthaburi and Chon Buri due to the NACC seizure order and the BMA's refusal to accept them. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has said an arbitrator based in Switzerland is working on making use of the vehicles.

This prevents the BMA from using them, while the arbitrator cannot make any public statement about the case.

The head of the BMA's Fire and Rescue Department, Pol Colonel Phichai Kringwatthanasiri, said although the engines of all the vehicles may still work, their tyres were all flat and it would take hundreds of millions of baht to have them replaced.

A BMA source said that the court's ruling was being translated into English and would later be sent to the arbitrator as key evidence to add more weight to the BMA's case seeking compensation for the non-use of the fire vehicles, because of corruption being committed and ruled accordingly by a Thai court of justice.

The BMA is also fighting two legal battles with local custodians of the parked vehicles, who are demanding extra pay for their services from the BMA.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was glad that former Bangkok governor and a deputy party leader Apirak Kosayodhin, who was acquitted by the court's ruling, would return to political work, without any distraction.


-- The Nation 2013-09-12

[Thai at Heart]

What did this guy do to run out of protection?

[kurnell]

What did this guy do to run out of protection?

Yeah, what's the difference between him and ALL the rest and why isn't he arguing the same point??

[soundman]

Joy, joy, the Christmas bells are ringing!!!! This guy has such an ego that I wager many assets are still in his name. Hopefully that will be the case if or when the freeze and seize order comes from the courts.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

[NongKhaiKid]

Let's hope AMLO get on with it and make a serious effort to do their job or will this be another DSI style announcement of " this is what we are going to do " and that's as far as it ever goes ?

[Thai at Heart]

What did this guy do to run out of protection?

Yeah, what's the difference between him and ALL the rest and why isn't he arguing the same point??

Maleenont shafted Limtongkul out of the media industry by cosying up to Thai rak thai

[chooka]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

The judge actually granted permission for him to leave the country prior to sentencing.

Will the defendant please stand. You have been found guilty of embezzlement and I intend to sentence you. Do you have anything to do abroad before I impose a prison sentence? If so I suggest you take care of business, here is your passport and tickets.

[arthurboy]

Loaded, influential and connected.

Seize his assets?

I think not.

sent from my hippo phone

[Thai at Heart]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

The judge actually granted permission for him to leave the country prior to sentencing.

Will the defendant please stand. You have been found guilty of embezzlement and I intend to sentence you. Do you have anything to do abroad before I impose a prison sentence? If so I suggest you take care of business, here is your passport and tickets.

It's not even a quaint aside anymore, it's just a disgrace and an insult to 70 odd million Thais.

[jaidam]

What a waste of taxpayers money, this chasing down of Pracha. When the "whitewash Thaksin for the greater good bill" is rammed through what's left of parliament Pracha and every other politician that ever stole, cheated, lied, murdered, ordered mass extrajudicial slaughtering of thousands, incited arson and terrorism will be let of scott free and likely rewarded with at least 7.5million for suffering loss of face. I hear the only crime so serious that it will not be included in Thaksins whitewash bill is having the wrong date on national service paperwork. So why waste money, time, and resources convicting him now?

[LuckyLew]

Why do thee people always announce their intentions

Why not just go and do it ... then after they can tell the world what they have done

Nothing better than telling an on the run fugitive .. "we are coming to get your <deleted> so you better hide it"

[clockman]

Nothing is ever done, because all of them are dirty. And any of them could end up in the same position. So to protect the ruling Sino chinese . Drag out the law and time. Till everybody has forgotten or been paid off. The whole system has been put in place for this purpose. T.I.T.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

A judge actually granted the guy permission to leave the country while the case was pending??? Amazing!!!

They're certainly big on "announcing." Not so big on actually "doing."

[Kalbo]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

The judge actually granted permission for him to leave the country prior to sentencing.

Will the defendant please stand. You have been found guilty of embezzlement and I intend to sentence you. Do you have anything to do abroad before I impose a prison sentence? If so I suggest you take care of business, here is your passport and tickets.

It's not even a quaint aside anymore, it's just a disgrace and an insult to 70 odd million Thais.

I agree with the disgrace part, but why is it an insult to 70 million odd Thais ? This is the country they have made for themselves, and as I'm sure you know, if any Thai feels insulted they usually respond vociferously.

[worgeordie]

They should show a picture of the rotting Fire engines,let the

Thai people see for themselves the results of corruption,and

how their tax money is squandered.

The man who signed the contract for the Fire engines,in his

last hours as Governor of Bangkok, is dead,but will they try

to claw any ill gotten gains from his heirs ?.

Regards Worgeordie

[Thaiwine]

Why would it cost hundreds of millions of baht to replace the tyres?

there are 315 trucks, say 8 tyres per truck @ £250 per tyre

that's £2000 per truck times 315 = £630,000

@ 50 baht to the pound that's only 31.5 million baht

not hundreds of millions

or is it me that cannot add up?

[Valentine]

One could say the police are in league with the crooks as they always announce their intentions in advance thus giving the guilty plenty of time to cover their tracks. Take this thought one step further.

[GeorgeO]

The Foreign Ministry is awaiting a written request from agencies authorised to seek the arrest of Pracha, who is believed to have fled overseas, said deputy ministry spokesman Jakkrit Srivali. He said the immigration police would know where Pracha was now, from his latest visa stamps.

How is that possible? He fled to Hong Kong weeks ago. He could be anywhere now.

Pracha's passport would expire on March 18, 2017, he added.

Not an issue for this Foreign Ministry, which has been known to issue a new passport to another similarly convicted fugitive.

We may get an answer to that one in another 30 days ... another 30 days ... another 30 days ...

[Baerboxer]

Why would it cost hundreds of millions of baht to replace the tyres?

there are 315 trucks, say 8 tyres per truck @ £250 per tyre

that's £2000 per truck times 315 = £630,000

@ 50 baht to the pound that's only 31.5 million baht

not hundreds of millions

or is it me that cannot add up?

I think you know the answer to your question sir

[klauskunkel]

agencies authorised to seek the arrest of Pracha...Pracha's passport would expire on March 18, 2017, he added.

Not to worry, Pracha my man, the Foreign Ministry will hand deliver a brand new passport to you, for a fee...

[LomSak27]

This won't end until the Statute of limitations is up - not that anyone will do any serious time for it. It gives politicians something to do on their down days.

[webfact]

RELATED:
No official efforts made yet to locate and prosecute Pracha Maleenont

BANGKOK, 12 Sep 2013, (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that it has not yet been contacted by responsible units to help bring back Mr. Pracha Maleenont, who is believed to be out of the country after being indicted for fraud in the BMA’s fire-truck procurement case.

According to Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information Chakrit Sriwali, the Immigration Office will be able to confirm whether Mr. Pracha is still in the country.

Meanwhile, Office of the Attorney-General Spokesperson Vinai Damrongmongkhonkul clarified that insufficient case statement is the reason behind the office's decision not to join the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand (NACC) in prosecuting other defendants including Bhokin Polakul, former Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin, and Wattana Muangsuk.

The office however backed the prosecution of former minister Pracha Maleenont, former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, former Director General of Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Police Lieutenant General Athiluck Tanchukiat, and the firetrucks supplier Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug Company Limited.

Mr. Vinai stated that the Office of the Attorney-General respects the NACC's decision to prosecute all of the defendants, despite its stance to exempt the trio.

The fire-truck procurement case is currently still pending court rulings.


-- NNT 2013-09-12

[tingtongteesood]

Now if only the DSI would study the assets of all current and former MP's and seize the assets that were stolen from the country, Thailand would suddenly have the best economy is the world....

[Thai at Heart]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

The judge actually granted permission for him to leave the country prior to sentencing.

Will the defendant please stand. You have been found guilty of embezzlement and I intend to sentence you. Do you have anything to do abroad before I impose a prison sentence? If so I suggest you take care of business, here is your passport and tickets.

It's not even a quaint aside anymore, it's just a disgrace and an insult to 70 odd million Thais.

I agree with the disgrace part, but why is it an insult to 70 million odd Thais ? This is the country they have made for themselves, and as I'm sure you know, if any Thai feels insulted they usually respond vociferously.

Interesting view. I find it an insult to my intelligence when I see that the system had conspired to let him go, and these pieces of s**t people announce.

"We let him go to China, he's normally such a straight up guy, but he's left. We didn't do anything wrong". So why don't the Thais feel insulted? Because most thais are so sheep like they can't even work out when they are being insulted. in fact the system prevents them from in this situation expressing the fact that the court is an utterly c corrupt system to protect the rich, because a mere normal Thai would be locked up for criticising and defaming a judge.

Indignation in Thais is reserved for them banding together against evil foreigners whilst the thieves are already in their midst. You have to admit that to hoodwink 60mn people is an amazing feat.

[lee b]

It will cost them a few million in water to was the fire trucks!

[Jay Sata]

Apart from the black paint to cover aircraft logo's Thailand must get through a lot of whitewash.

[fareastguy]

How many rounds of "convicted or soon to be convicted Thai politician flees abroad" will it take before the prosecuting authorities learn the meaning of the term "flight risk" and at least seize passports at the time of charges being filed and/or seek a judge's permission to do so?

Of course, that assumes that the prosecutors in these cases are really serious in having justice done, and the defendants being held to account for the court's final verdict.

If his passport expires in 2017 then why don't they revoke it now ??

[robblok]

Pracha Maleenont's family has Billions and Billions of Baht in assets.

They are the richest stockholders on the SET, for example.

Then seize some of it.. but i worry they will never do it as it will set a precedent.... that is the last thing they want because that means they can loose their ill gains. (they current politicians)

[Jay Sata]

Pracha Maleenont's family has Billions and Billions of Baht in assets.

They are the richest stockholders on the SET, for example.

Money talks.