'Independent agencies' continue to probe deposed PM Yingluck

[webfact]

"Independent Agencies" Continue to Probe Deposed PM
By Khaosod English


Crowd of supporters greets former PM Yingluck Shinawatra as she tours Phitsanulok province on 24 December 2013.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s “independent agencies” continue to investigate former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra a month after her government was deposed in a military coup.

Today, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the Election Commission (EC) is investigating a claim that Ms. Yingluck misused the state's apparatus by appearing on national television to defend the government's rice-pledging scheme after she had already dissolved Parliament.

The EC is also probing Ms. Yingluck for visiting supporters in northern and northeastern Thailand prior to the national election on 2 February, Mr. Somchai said. According to the allegation, Ms. Yingluck inappropriately used her position as acting Prime Minister to campaign for her party.

Mr. Somchai said the EC was unable to collect relevant documents to supplement their investigations while anti-government protesters were laying siege to governmental buildings as part of their six-month campaign to oust Ms. Yingluck.

Now that the anti-government protests are over, thanks to the 22 May military coup, the EC has successfully collected all the documents, Mr. Somchai said.

"Now we only need to interview some witnesses in the provinces outside Bangkok," he added.

The EC is also working on a separate case concerning 19 politicians from Ms. Yinglucks’s Pheu Thai Party that appeared on state-owned Channel 11 in the pre-election period, which the EC says is a violation of election laws.

"The EC will swiftly complete the three cases, because they are of great interest to the people," Mr. Somchai said. "I believe all of the cases could reach a verdict by August."

The 2 Feb election was ultimately nullified in a court ruling because voting did not take place everywhere in the country on the same day after anti-government protesters stormed candidate registration venues, seized ballot boxes, shut down polling stations, and intimidated voters in an attempt to scuttle the election. The protesters argued that unspecified national reforms must be completed before any election could be held.

The EC has not taken any action against the anti-election protesters.

Yingluck's assets revealed

Earlier today the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), who is still investigating Ms. Yingluck over allegations of corruption in connection with her government's rice-pledging policy, released details of the assets held by Ms. Yingluck and nine Cabinet members who were ousted in a court ruling on 7 May.

The NACC routinely publishes the assets of ministers in power, but has said it will not conduct an investigation into the assets of the military junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). A deputy secretary of the NACC claimed there was no legal basis for the NACC to do so.

According to the NACC, Ms Yingluck and her partner Anusorn Amornchat own assets worth 574 million baht, with a debt of 28 million baht.

The data shows that Ms. Yingluck was the second-richest person in her Cabinet; the richest Minister was former Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who reportedly owns more than 970 million baht in assets.

The NACC says it is now investigating Ms. Yingluck for allegedly failing to notify the Commission about the existence of her 2.5 million baht luxury watch.

The NACC reportedly intends summon Ms. Yingluck for further questioning concerning the watch.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1403856202


-- Khaosod English 2014-06-27

[bigbamboo]

Ouch!

[Mango Bob]

So what law is it that she can't buy a watch? No matter how much it cost. damn I think she has the money to avoid the damn watch.

[lovetotravel]

So what law is it that she can't buy a watch? No matter how much it cost. damn I think she has the money to avoid the damn watch.

No law against buying a watch, it's failing to report it as an asset that's against the law. If she failed to report this, how many other assets were not reported? Just saying...it is the law.

[Robby nz]

Plodprasop will have to sell a few more tigers to get himself into the billionaire club.

I see elsewhere that Chalerm has only 171 million but that wont include the cars which he says he is only looking after for someone else.

The EC has not taken any action against the anti-election protesters.

Possibly the EC dosent have to as the DSI previously laid multiple charges against them.

But what the heck, probably the only way the red rag could get a dig in against the EC.

[ratcatcher]

So what law is it that she can't buy a watch? No matter how much it cost. damn I think she has the money to avoid the damn watch.

"......she has the money to avoid the damn watch."

I am sure she had the money and could afford the watch, but she avoided reporting it as an asset. Really tough.

[mikemac]

So what law is it that she can't buy a watch? No matter how much it cost. damn I think she has the money to avoid the damn watch.

No law against buying a watch, it's failing to report it as an asset that's against the law. If she failed to report this, how many other assets were not reported? Just saying...it is the law.

Yes, lovetotravel, you are correct, it is the law. But remember when it comes to the PTP, or any other party that was tainted by the Shinawatra regime, they ignored Thai law when it did not suit them, or tried to have them re-written in the middle of the night, while honest people were in their beds sleeping.

And I believe Yingluck and co' will be well and truly "probed" by the time the good General is done with them. The only one who will get away without anyone laying a hand on his arse will be the puppet master himself, the one who created this mess in the first place.

Must be a sorry lot, the losers who actually support these crooks.

[Just1Voice]

I'm not saying that if she's guilty, she shouldn't be held accountable, but:

"The EC will swiftly complete the three cases, because they are of great interest to the people," Mr. Somchai said. "I believe all of the cases could reach a verdict by August."

So that means a verdict in 2 months or so. Meanwhile cases against PAD and their leaders for taking over Government House and occupying the airport are still sitting on a shelf somewhere gathering dust.

If you're going to apply justice, apply it evenly and equally to all.

[Fat Haggis]

and who is investigating the EC for failing to make sure the elections on Feb 2nd were not conducted properly?

It's as obvious as day is to night, that there's a concerted effort to rip the PTP to shreds, not without merit, however there's a very clear agenda going on..

[bangrak]

My guess is the 2.5M. watch will be 'just a present' from an unknown 'supporter', a bit like that nun with her brand new Porsche, LOL!

But 600M. in assets, wouldn't that only be the 'tip of the iceberg', considering the Shins are 'valued' several Billions of USD, or would Yingluck have no share in the BIG cake, here and abroad? When, officially, so, maybe her maids, gardeners, drivers and such should be checked too, they could be 'amply rich' ;-), in the same inexplicable way her brother's were...

[ChrisY1]

I think this is all a big PR stunt by those in authority now....we all know YL is weathly.....any ill earned funds would be very well concealed, she's not 100% dopey...ok a few Hermes bags and belts, a few Patek watches....

It would be much better to go after the real "big men" of crime in Thailand.....the hi profile people, I think, are a bit smarter than to have an asset probe find much

[drand11]

Only in Thailand can a PM get removed from office because she re-assigned a cabinet member to make room for her brother's ex wife's brother.

By the way, a Brother's ex-Wife's brother. Is this family? Really? Of course not, its not family. I suppose if its "Wrong" in Thailand, then so be it.

Just seems "Petty" to the rest of the world.

The bigger issue, the rice scheme, Innocent. That's good news.

[winstonc]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

you are joking... that lump..you set your bar pretty low lad...

[tingtongteesood]

So what law is it that she can't buy a watch? No matter how much it cost. damn I think she has the money to avoid the damn watch.

Are you really that dim ?

Edited June 27, 2014 by tingtongteesood

[tingtongteesood]

and who is investigating the EC for failing to make sure the elections on Feb 2nd were not conducted properly?

It's as obvious as day is to night, that there's a concerted effort to rip the PTP to shreds, not without merit, however there's a very clear agenda going on..

Remember when the EC told PT about 50 times that the election could not happen because there would be so many problems ? The EC did their job properly until PTP started strong arming them because they so desperately wanted to get back into power to be able to revive the 'amnesty' bill to whitewash all their crimes. Come on man, take your red blinkers off and find 2 brain cells to rub together....

[Emster23]

"Mr. Somchai said the EC was unable to collect relevant documents to supplement their investigations while anti-government protesters were laying siege to governmental buildings as part of their six-month campaign to oust Ms. Yingluck." Are they investigating that? We know the answer already. Who cares if elections and normal government operations are shut down and those people are free as a bird. The important thing is to get that woman who dared to go on TV to talk to Thai people (I still can't believe that offense, and I've been here a long time).

What happened will come out that adviser told Yingluck she'd better "watch herself". She took it literally I guess.

I imagine US Republicans are now saying "Why didn't we think of that????" regarding "Only in Thailand can a PM get removed from office because she re-assigned a cabinet member to make room for her brother's ex wife's brother. By the way, a Brother's ex-Wife's brother. Is this family?" President Kennedy had his brother appointed attorney general.

[cocopops]

Considering the scale of the corruption that is claimed, everything investigated so far seems completely trivial.

One would expect a member of a billionaire family to own some pretty expensive stuff. That a single luxury wristwatch was forgotten is hardly a suspicious thing. Similarly, one expects the PM to appear on television, particularly in the middle of a crisis.

Perhaps these are technical violations. Certainly they are at least as serious as the Thawil's transfer. But it does seem odd to start with such small stuff. Surely if they mean to investigate someone as corrupt and evil as Yingluck Shinawatra for every small violation they will be there for literally hundreds of years! Unless... No, not possible, right?

[snottgoblin]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

With what?

She's gone a bit chunky of late, obviously trying to scoff down the rice piles

[nabbie]

2.5 million baht watch = 1250 tablets

[gemini81]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

She's up there in age...but if you like moldy oldies, go for it. keep the young ones & ones with brains for me.

[gemini81]

Only in Thailand can a PM get removed from office because she re-assigned a cabinet member to make room for her brother's ex wife's brother.

By the way, a Brother's ex-Wife's brother. Is this family? Really? Of course not, its not family. I suppose if its "Wrong" in Thailand, then so be it.

Just seems "Petty" to the rest of the world.

The bigger issue, the rice scheme, Innocent. That's good news.

Only in Thailand could such a waste of extravagant, shameless life ever manage to get elected; or bought.

[Fat Haggis]

and who is investigating the EC for failing to make sure the elections on Feb 2nd were not conducted properly?

It's as obvious as day is to night, that there's a concerted effort to rip the PTP to shreds, not without merit, however there's a very clear agenda going on..

Remember when the EC told PT about 50 times that the election could not happen because there would be so many problems ? The EC did their job properly until PTP started strong arming them because they so desperately wanted to get back into power to be able to revive the 'amnesty' bill to whitewash all their crimes. Come on man, take your red blinkers off and find 2 brain cells to rub together....

Under the rules of the constitution after the dissolution of Parliament an election had to be called with 90 days if I remember correctly, and the date was actually held several days AFTER that date. It was the EC's single task to make sure that the elections could go ahead, so thank you for pointing out that they were not prepared to hold elections at the time, or up to the task.

They failed to secure the ballot boxes and the polling stations and failed to protect those who wished to vote from being intimidated from doing so.

They failed to ensure that polling stations remained open, instead they allowed these stations to shut up shop..

The PTP may have been informed that the elections would have problems, but it was THEIR (EC) responsibility to make sure these problems would not infringe on the voters... they failed!!

IF the PTP hadn't of called on the elections as per the constitution, the protesters and the courts would have been baying for her blood, just like they are now, if the elections were not held. Damned if she did, damned if she didn't.

You keep harping on about this amnesty bill, it was never ever going to get passed after the first time, and even the democrats agreed to it, it was the last minute change that stopped it in it's tracks. So why keep bringing it up? It's a red herring.

My blinkers are of no particular colour, you make an assumption because I slate the PDRC and EC that I must be a red, well here this is just for you, seeing as you're another one who reads my posts, but only see what you want to see... I have NO love for the Reds, I have no love for the Yellows, my loyalty lies with my family, I am a farang with absolute NO say, so treating Thai politics like a football team, as other farangs seem to do, hold no merit for me. I think that there is no better party, I did on many an occasions clearly state that IF I WERE THAI, I'd vote Democrats and have Abhisit as my vote, so I must be the only red spectacle wearing democrat if there's such a thing!! I wouldn't vote PTP/UDD even if you paid me to, but considering Abhisit seems to be AWOL, I'd be hard pushed to support a man, who lacked a backbone to stand against the PTP/UDD in an election.

Popularity isn't measured by being placed in a position of power and authority,it's earned through trust and respect, and probably still is the only way the democrats will get into power, write off the Issan peoples votes at your peril, IF there's ever to be an election held again.

The constitution will be re written again by the Military, and the main opponents of the Dems will be banned, I don't know about you tingtongseesod, but that smacks of rigging the game every bit as bad as vote buying don't you think?

[Rykbanlor]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

Nothing like a dumb lay

[thesetat2013]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

That may take a long time since she is getting so fat sitting at home

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tokay]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

keep the young ones & ones with brains for me.

Please let me know on what planet you find YOUNG + BRAINS, and I'll take the first spaceship out of here.

Though, assuming someone with 600m doesn't have a brain, shows you may not have one yourself.

[seajae]

and who is investigating the EC for failing to make sure the elections on Feb 2nd were not conducted properly?

It's as obvious as day is to night, that there's a concerted effort to rip the PTP to shreds, not without merit, however there's a very clear agenda going on..

Remember when the EC told PT about 50 times that the election could not happen because there would be so many problems ? The EC did their job properly until PTP started strong arming them because they so desperately wanted to get back into power to be able to revive the 'amnesty' bill to whitewash all their crimes. Come on man, take your red blinkers off and find 2 brain cells to rub together....

Under the rules of the constitution after the dissolution of Parliament an election had to be called with 90 days if I remember correctly, and the date was actually held several days AFTER that date. It was the EC's single task to make sure that the elections could go ahead, so thank you for pointing out that they were not prepared to hold elections at the time, or up to the task.

They failed to secure the ballot boxes and the polling stations and failed to protect those who wished to vote from being intimidated from doing so.

They failed to ensure that polling stations remained open, instead they allowed these stations to shut up shop..

The PTP may have been informed that the elections would have problems, but it was THEIR (EC) responsibility to make sure these problems would not infringe on the voters... they failed!!

IF the PTP hadn't of called on the elections as per the constitution, the protesters and the courts would have been baying for her blood, just like they are now, if the elections were not held. Damned if she did, damned if she didn't.

You keep harping on about this amnesty bill, it was never ever going to get passed after the first time, and even the democrats agreed to it, it was the last minute change that stopped it in it's tracks. So why keep bringing it up? It's a red herring.

My blinkers are of no particular colour, you make an assumption because I slate the PDRC and EC that I must be a red, well here this is just for you, seeing as you're another one who reads my posts, but only see what you want to see... I have NO love for the Reds, I have no love for the Yellows, my loyalty lies with my family, I am a farang with absolute NO say, so treating Thai politics like a football team, as other farangs seem to do, hold no merit for me. I think that there is no better party, I did on many an occasions clearly state that IF I WERE THAI, I'd vote Democrats and have Abhisit as my vote, so I must be the only red spectacle wearing democrat if there's such a thing!! I wouldn't vote PTP/UDD even if you paid me to, but considering Abhisit seems to be AWOL, I'd be hard pushed to support a man, who lacked a backbone to stand against the PTP/UDD in an election.

Popularity isn't measured by being placed in a position of power and authority,it's earned through trust and respect, and probably still is the only way the democrats will get into power, write off the Issan peoples votes at your peril, IF there's ever to be an election held again.

The constitution will be re written again by the Military, and the main opponents of the Dems will be banned, I don't know about you tingtongseesod, but that smacks of rigging the game every bit as bad as vote buying don't you think?

sorry mate but you are wrong, they actually went to the constitutional court about this and the decision was that they could change the date as long as both parties agreed to it, the ptp refused, the police refused to do their job as well and the ptp didnt make them do it. The election commision pointed all this out to the ptp but they refused to budge so the election failed, then the ptp claimed the ec didnt do their job when it was them that refused to do anything and would not allow the ec to change dates. You want to blame someone, blame the ptp, they are the ones that had the agenda and would not change, the ec tried in vain to change dates so it would not be a farce. I look at thai politics and see all the crime/corruption in it and want whats best for everyone not one side or the other, the sooner the corruption and shirt colours removed the better, the only thing that needs banning are any politicians that have been found to be criminal and it should be for life not 5 years. No other country lets a self exiled wanted criminal to run the govt and tell them what to do and then have the same govt issue him with a passport and not push for his arrest plus visit him regularly and skype their meetings with him, you want criminal/rigging, thats what yl/the ptp did. Notice how now that the general has removed the loyalist thaksin police from on high that they are actually doing their job, crime is being stopped, criminals brought to justice and corruption headed off along with the farmers being paid and a lot of the other things that they general has done and all in a month, shows just how inept/criminal the ptp really were and the police they put in the top positions.

Edited June 27, 2014 by seajae

[UbonRatch]

My daddy bought my watch, honestly. Check the serial number. It came from Dubai.

[UbonRatch]

I wouldn't mind probing her too

keep the young ones & ones with brains for me.

Please let me know on what planet you find YOUNG + BRAINS, and I'll take the first spaceship out of here.

Though, assuming someone with 600m doesn't have a brain, shows you may not have one yourself.

There are lots of young 30 year olds with PhDs, and Master's degrees, who are also very beautiful.

Unfortunately, you don't meet them in bars, or take-a-ways or brothels. Thus, unfortunately I can't help you on this one, until you are over aged 18.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I'm not saying that if she's guilty, she shouldn't be held accountable, but:

"The EC will swiftly complete the three cases, because they are of great interest to the people," Mr. Somchai said. "I believe all of the cases could reach a verdict by August."

So that means a verdict in 2 months or so. Meanwhile cases against PAD and their leaders for taking over Government House and occupying the airport are still sitting on a shelf somewhere gathering dust.

If you're going to apply justice, apply it evenly and equally to all.

A verdict? The EC (as well as the NACC) does not have the power of the court to find someone it investigates to be guilty. However, it is somewhat suspect to consider the EC (and NACC) now as an independent organization given the suspension of the constitution that established its authority and that fact that any trial will be conducted in a military court by the same military that overthrew the government.

[Crushdepth]

Yingluck's assets revealed?

Sent from somewhere in the Pacific