Democrat urges investigation of Pheu Thai clocks, amulets

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Democrat Urges Investigation Of Pheu Thai Clocks, Amulets
By Khaosod English


Pro-government supporters stage protests in front of the office of National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), 13 March 2014

BANGKOK — A prominent member of Thailand’s Democrat Party has urged authorities to investigate the former ruling Pheu Thai Party over purchases of expensive amulets and digital clocks.

Former Democrat Party MP Watchara Petchthong urged Thailand’s anti-graft agency to examine a Pheu Thai politician's failure to disclose his possession of two expensive amulets and the Pheu Thai-led Parliament's decision to purchase 30 million baht worth of digital clocks last year.

He stated his grievances in a letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) today.

According to the letter, Mr. Watchara believes Mana Kongwutthipanya, an MP candidate of Pheu Thai Party, should be prosecuted by the NACC for deliberately hiding his ownership of two rare amulets in the financial disclosing document he submitted to the NACC.

The two amulets, Phra Prue and Somdet Wat Rakang, are worth more than 34 million baht.

Mr. Watchara also urged the NACC to speed up the investigation of pricy digital clocks installed in the House of Parliament last year. A total of 238 clocks were installed throughout the building while the Pheu Thai Party was in power, costing the state approximately 15 million baht.

Mr. Watchara also called upon the NACC to hold former Division of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdith accountable for allegedly neglecting to investigate corruption in the former government’s rice-pledging scheme.

The Democrat politician claimed Mr. Pengdith turned a blind eye to the program’s rampant corruption and rejected the Democrat Party's request to launch an investigation into the scheme in 2013.

"If Mr. Tharit had accepted the rice mortgage case as special case in 2013, the losses [to the state] wouldn't be this great," Mr. Watchara said.

NACC deputy secretary-general Witthaya Arkompitak accepted the complaint and said the Commission will deliberate on the matter.

Last week, the NACC found former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra guilty of failing to prevent corruption in the controversial rice-pledging program.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1406639287&section=11


-- Khaosod English 2014-07-30

[Seastallion]

If he gets indicted and convicted, the amulets will lose a lot of value because they did not protect him very well.

On that basis alone, the NACC might want to drop any action.

[lemonjelly]

63,000 baht per clock, and lets hope Mr. Tarit does some time.

[BSJ]

63,000 baht per clock, and lets hope Mr. Tarit does some time.

But they are really accurate!

[rebelplatoon]

It clearly is 5 minutes to twelve....

[rubl]

63,000 baht per clock, and lets hope Mr. Tarit does some time.

But they are really accurate!

Both in time and location using GPS, allegedly that is

[bunnydrops]

This kind of thing happens all the time. What needs to be looked at is the source of the clocks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/us/politics/behind-armys-17000-drip-pan-harold-rogerss-earmark.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[aussieinthailand]

They must be some nice clocks,

Take the crooked sod down I say, 15 million in clocks and 34 million in 2 amulets, disgusting,

how much good could that have helped in hospitals, schools, etc.

[Skywalker69]

The two amulets, Phra Prue and Somdet Wat Rakang, are worth more than 34 million baht

Sick, really sick!!!

[jerrybuice]

63,000 baht per clock, and lets hope Mr. Tarit does some time.

But they are really accurate!

It does not matter how accurate they are....most Thai's I know are ALWAYS late!

[IamNoone88]

Its not the clocks or amulets people need to be concerned about - it the other schemes worth Billions. This is just chump change on the big scheme of things and a distraction.

[smutcakes]

But But but, why dont the Democrats demand investigation into the bomb detectors, or the blimp, or the air craft carriers, or the palm oil scam, or their ex transport ministers stash under his bed etc etc...

Seriously thought I thought this type of politicking was supposed to be banned at the moment or at least political parties had been asked to keep quiet?

[ezzra]

The purchase is completely logical, amulets to protect the crocked regime from the wrath of the

people and clocks to remind them that the nigh is near, very near...

[Valentine]

Its not the clocks or amulets people need to be concerned about - it the other schemes worth Billions. This is just chump change on the big scheme of things and a distraction.

Yes but it could set a good precedent if he is convicted & receives an appropriate hefty sentence.

[godden]

hi stupid don't you know the amulets are to insure the clocks keep time. ahhhhhhhhhh

[Eric Loh]

The purchase is completely logical, amulets to protect the crocked regime from the wrath of the

people and clocks to remind them that the nigh is near, very near...

Not sure who you refer to as crocked regime. The clock was purchased by Parliment and not by politicians. The item was part of a Parliment House refurbishment project that include other items like Ipad, coffee tables, decor and decoration. Parliment House staffs were involved and were questioned by a Parliment anti-graft committee which eventually recommended the project to be scrapped and clocks returned.

[chotthee]

They must be some nice clocks,

Take the crooked sod down I say, 15 million in clocks and 34 million in 2 amulets, disgusting,

how much good could that have helped in hospitals, schools, etc.

You must be Muslim.

Don't forget that Thailand is a Buddhist country.

[Artisi]

They must be some nice clocks,

Take the crooked sod down I say, 15 million in clocks and 34 million in 2 amulets, disgusting,

how much good could that have helped in hospitals, schools, etc.

You must be Muslim.

Don't forget that Thailand is a Buddhist country.

Please explain?

[Payboy]

The clocks are so expensive because they're imported from Korea.

[Baerboxer]

But But but, why dont the Democrats demand investigation into the bomb detectors, or the blimp, or the air craft carriers, or the palm oil scam, or their ex transport ministers stash under his bed etc etc...

Seriously thought I thought this type of politicking was supposed to be banned at the moment or at least political parties had been asked to keep quiet?

Yes, investigate all former politicians and prosecute those that have broken the law. Some. like Thaksin, might get convicted of breaking the law, and have a very large amount waiting court proceedings.

But, don't keep excusing the Shin family for all their misdeeds because someone else might or might not of done something.