Civil Court finds Supodh guilty of being 'unusually rich'

[webfact]

Civil Court finds Supodh guilty of being 'unusually rich'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Civil Court found former permanent secretary for Transport Ministry Supodh Sublom guilty of being unusually rich Friday and ordered the seizure of his assets worth Bt46.14 million. Supodh was charged in court on February 9, 2012 by public prosecutors.

The court reasoned that it was impossible for Supodh to have amassed so much wealth through honest means during his time in government.

Supodh faced a graft investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission after eight suspected thieves broke into his house on Soi Lat Phrao 64 on the night of November 12 2011 and made off with Bt18 million in cash and gold ornaments.

After the arrest of the suspects, Supodh initially claimed that only Bt5 million was stolen from his house and the money was a gift for his daughter's wedding.

Following an investigation, the NACC asked the Civil Court to seize Bt64.998 million worth of Supodh's assets, including savings in nine bank accounts; savings with the Highway Department cooperative; land plots in Bangkok and the provinces; his house; vehicles; and condominiums. The amount included the Bt18 million retrieved from the thieves.

The NACC told the court that Supodh failed to clarify how he had amassed such a large amount of assets which could not have been accrued merely from his government earnings in the Transport Ministry.

Defending himself, Supodh presented six relatives who claimed that some of the assets frozen by the NACC belonged to them. Supodh also claimed that he had already owned most of the assets before he took the position of permanent secretary for the Transport Ministry. The six relatives are Narumol Saplom, Sutthiwan Saplom, Chalee Chaimongkol, Anek Jongsathien, Suebpong Prapyai, and Sutthawan Prapyai.

The Civil Court ruled that Supodh and his six relatives failed to provide sufficient evidence that the Bt13 million in cash retrieved from the suspected thieves belonged to them.

The court also noted that the six witnesses presented by Supodh were close to him and therefore their testimonies did not carry enough weight without strong evidence.

The court said Supodh began his government service in 1977. In 2012, as permanent secretary, he was required to submit his assets statement to the NACC for the first time. The court noted that during the period Supodh would have earned only about Bt5 million from his government salary. It was therefore irregular for him to report to the NACC that he had assets worth Bt46 million.

The court noted that Supodh's two daughters had also continued to study abroad after they both received bachelor's degrees in Thailand. The cost of their schooling should have caused Supodh's assets to dwindle rather than increase, the court noted.

-- The Nation 2014-01-31

[thesetat2013]

One down umteen to go. Maybe the civil courts can get the farmerS their rice money.

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[clockman]

Thats only a drop in the ocean!

[jaidam]

Bad day for the reds. This guy was supposed to be exonerated and compensated by the Thaksin amnesty bill for the inconvenience he suffered by those pesky law enforcement officers and nosy journalists. My heart bleeds for him!

[Cricketnut]

And the gaul of the man. He isn't a thief is he... Or just a wise investor!

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[Prbkk]

Bad day for the reds. This guy was supposed to be exonerated and compensated by the Thaksin amnesty bill for the inconvenience he suffered by those pesky law enforcement officers and nosy journalists. My heart bleeds for him!

On the contrary, it is a good day for everyone when a crook gets caught. The implication in your post that this activity applies to one side only is, as with almost all your posts, ludicrous

[clockman]

Its only that unique brand of Thainess. Money tallks, criminals walk!

[Costas2008]

Another one to bite the dust.....many more to come.

Please, do not forget to vote for PTP on Sunday

[Cuchulainn]

Another squeaky clean Pheu Thai member.

[Suriya4]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

[bigbamboo]

Why pick on him?

[theslime]

Caught Red handed,Where does he go now, the resort Hospital Gaol

[Emptyset]

Another squeaky clean Pheu Thai member.

He got his job as permanent secretary for transport in 2009 under Abhisit - tho it was rumoured to be PJT who secured him the position. He was caught in Nov 2011. So what makes you think he was a 'Pheu Thai' member?

[scorecard]

Bad day for the reds. This guy was supposed to be exonerated and compensated by the Thaksin amnesty bill for the inconvenience he suffered by those pesky law enforcement officers and nosy journalists. My heart bleeds for him!

Agree, and my heart bleeds for the Thai taxpayers.

[Cuchulainn]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

Well, that's a bit naive but a step in the right direction anyway to rid Thailand of this scourge.

[casualbiker]

Another squeaky clean Pheu Thai member.

He got his job as permanent secretary for transport in 2009 under Abhisit - tho it was rumoured to be PJT who secured him the position. He was caught in Nov 2011. So what makes you think he was a 'Pheu Thai' member?

if that is the case then the report is either wrong or he left it a long time to submit his assets declaration.

And if it was BJT that would explain the dust free roads campaign

[icommunity]

Bad day for the reds. This guy was supposed to be exonerated and compensated by the Thaksin amnesty bill for the inconvenience he suffered by those pesky law enforcement officers and nosy journalists. My heart bleeds for him!

Wrong. Happy day for the Red. He was in AV coalition government.

[aaacorp]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

"No Thaksin, no corruption." ..........

[Emptyset]

Another squeaky clean Pheu Thai member.

He got his job as permanent secretary for transport in 2009 under Abhisit - tho it was rumoured to be PJT who secured him the position. He was caught in Nov 2011. So what makes you think he was a 'Pheu Thai' member?

if that is the case then the report is either wrong or he left it a long time to submit his assets declaration.

And if it was BJT that would explain the dust free roads campaign

Supoj appointed permanent secretary for Transport

Published on September 15, 2009

The Cabinet Tuesday approved the appointment of Highways Department Director-General Supoj Suplom as the new permanent secretary for Transport Ministry.

The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Bhum Jai Thai Party to give the top post at the ministry to Supoj.

The Nation

[bangkokheat]

thats a great start, now how about following thru with the rest of them, there will be so much money in the coffers that thailand could enjoy huge tax breaks

[BlueNoseCodger]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

So funny!

He was the transport minister under the last DEMOCRAT government he's from part of the Democrat coalition that last had power! He was found to have a house stashed with millions in cash. A thief broke in and stole the money. He reported 1 million missing to police, then said it was 5 million. The police caught the thief and recovered about 40 million. From the questions of the theives, the total amount was estimated to be nearer 100 million baht!

They figured a large part of his house was stashed floor to ceiling with cash, and the thieves said they couldn't take it all away because their truck couldn't carry any more!

He's one of yours!

Edited January 31, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[icommunity]

Another one to bite the dust.....many more to come.

Please, do not forget to vote for PTP on Sunday

Yes, do not forget to vote for PTP. They are serious in tackling irregularities, corruption, conflict of interest and abused of power. Charlerm really had Supodh nailed. Supodh once argued that it was politically motivated because he is a BJT - The party that betrayed PTP to get AV in power.

[casualbiker]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

So funny!

He was the transport minister under the last DEMOCRAT government he's from part of the Democrat coalition that last had power! He was found to have a house stashed with millions in cash. A thief broke in and stole the money. He reported 1 million missing to police, then said it was 5 million. The police caught the thief and recovered about 40 million. From the questions of the theives, the total amount was estimated to be nearer 100 million baht!

They figured a large part of his house was stashed floor to ceiling with cash, and the thieves said they couldn't take it all away because their truck couldn't carry any more!

He's one of yours!

Yep, part of a coalition.. NOT a Democrat.. Newin and BJT were originally in the Thaksin camp before having a falling out.. like Banharn Silpa Archer and his party.. they have no real political ideology so bounce from one government to the next.. reform is needed.

ANDPS: he was NOT transport minister .. he was permanent secretary for Transport Ministry.

Edited January 31, 2014 by casualbiker

[ratcatcher]

Thats only a drop in the ocean!

And oceans are fed by mighty rivers with humble beginnings.

The debate whether Suphot was PTP, Dem or Mickey Mouse Club is academic.

He is a Thai politician who has amassed a vast fortune that is being questioned as to its source.

His political affiliations are irrelevant, the fact is he's corrupt in a big way and many more of his type, Thaksin, Suthep, Chalerm will be investigated further as time goes by. I haven't even mentioned the barons of thai industry, their time will come, but that's private money. Suphot was a 'civil servant'/

[Robby nz]

I suspected at the time that the cash he had in his home was not actually his money but the (corruption) Xmas bonuses for the whole department.

It seemed strange he would have that much money lying around.

The thieves obviously knew he had the money and saw an opportunity reasoning as it was corruption money he wouldn't tell the cops.

They were wrong on that one as he would have had to explain the boss where the money went.

I noted that his boss shocked when the story broke, he would be as he had probably already spent some of was to be his share.

But then that's only my theory.

Good he has gone down, may there be many more.

[pedro01]

Excellent news - I was not aware the case was ongoing. I though it's had been swept under the carpet!

[icommunity]

Bad day for the reds. This guy was supposed to be exonerated and compensated by the Thaksin amnesty bill for the inconvenience he suffered by those pesky law enforcement officers and nosy journalists. My heart bleeds for him!

Agree, and my heart bleeds for the Thai taxpayers.

The DEM and Suthep hated the current government that they used street protests to cover up the irregularities committed during the AV administration.

[fleeing]

Waiting for someone to claim that this court is also doing the bidding of the Democrats/PDRC/Suthep.

Terribly biased

[BlueNoseCodger]

Another Thaksin man found guilty.

This is exactly why Bangkok should be shutdown.

To remove Thaksin.

No Thaksin, no corruption.

So funny!

He was the transport minister under the last DEMOCRAT government he's from part of the Democrat coalition that last had power! He was found to have a house stashed with millions in cash. A thief broke in and stole the money. He reported 1 million missing to police, then said it was 5 million. The police caught the thief and recovered about 40 million. From the questions of the theives, the total amount was estimated to be nearer 100 million baht!

They figured a large part of his house was stashed floor to ceiling with cash, and the thieves said they couldn't take it all away because their truck couldn't carry any more!

He's one of yours!

Yep, part of a coalition.. NOT a Democrat.. Newin and BJT were originally in the Thaksin camp before having a falling out.. like Banharn Silpa Archer and his party.. they have no real political ideology so bounce from one government to the next.. reform is needed.

And who made him transport secretary? Oh yes, that was the Democrats!

As Suriya said , No Thaksin, no corruption.

[Emptyset]

Waiting for someone to claim that this court is also doing the bidding of the Democrats/PDRC/Suthep.

Terribly biased

You're confusing the Civil Court with the Constitutional Court. lol. Civil Court seems pretty neutral...