Somsak denies corruption accusation

[webfact]

Somsak denies corruption accusation
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The anti-graft agency and former education minister Somsak Prissanananthakul yesterday gave evidence before the National Legislative Assembly over Somsak's alleged disproportionate wealth.

The NLA is hearing an impeachment case filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against Somsak. The case centres on Somsak's Bt16-million home in Angthong province. NACC member Narong Rathamarit told the NLA that Somsak had earned about Bt5 million a year, which should not have been sufficient to fund the construction of the house. He said the NACC found that the house was built in 1998 when Somsak was serving as deputy education minister and later as education minister.

Somsak, a senior figure from the Chart Thai Pattana Party, answered a number of questions posed by NLA members during the meeting.

He was asked why he initially denied the house was his but later admitted to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders that it belonged to him.

Somsak said he did that because the house's construction was funded by a company in which his wife was a shareholder.

He also claimed he was advised by an NACC official that he did not need to report the house was his and that was why he did not include the house in his financial report filed with the NACC. He admitted that he should have done so and he had already been punished by the Supreme Court, which banned him from politics for five years.

However, Somsak added that his failure to include the house in his financial report did not mean he was corrupt. Yesterday's meeting was chaired by NLA first vice president, Surachai Liengboonlertchai.

Both sides are scheduled to present their closing statements on Thursday.

Narong said the agency would submit its closing statement in the form of a document.

Somsak will give his closing statement verbally.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Somsak-denies-corruption-accusation-30272373.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-06

[Reigntax]

So when do the investigations commence into the unusual wealth of senior military officers?

Or are they just untouchable because it appears they have been touching up the Thai people for well over 70 years.

[ChrisY1]

A small witch hunt here over a cottage......meanwhile, there are/have been leaders that deal in hundreds of millions in single transactions............

Unusual wealth investigations should be the normal course of action for all leaders, ministers, police, military etc!

[NongKhaiKid]

So when do the investigations commence into the unusual wealth of senior military officers?

Or are they just untouchable because it appears they have been touching up the Thai people for well over 70 years.

Thai law enforcement, either non-existent or highly selective.

[zaphod reborn]

So when do the investigations commence into the unusual wealth of senior military officers?

Or are they just untouchable because it appears they have been touching up the Thai people for well over 70 years.

Go ahead, Mr. Farang, file a complaint with the NACC against the "senior military officers". Or, are you scared, because you don't have a shred of evidence to support your accusation. You don't even have enough of a clue to identify a single person accused. Just a load of noise is all you have.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

"However, Somsak added that his failure to include the house in his financial report did not mean he was corrupt."

No, being a politician means that you are corrupt!!

[EnglishJohn]

A small witch hunt here over a cottage......meanwhile, there are/have been leaders that deal in hundreds of millions in single transactions............

Unusual wealth investigations should be the normal course of action for all leaders, ministers, police, military etc!

There is no question where the money you are alluding to came from. He sold land handed down to him by his father and he has been complete open about that. Which bit is difficult to understand ? - or don't your 'usual sources' go into that much detail ?.

So what you are demanding is that Prayuths father is investigated because he owned some land right ?. But why didn't you say that ?. And should EVERYBODY who owns land over a certain amount be investigated ?.

I have no idea how he owned that land. Neither do you. You just don't like it.

[waldroj]

So when do the investigations commence into the unusual wealth of senior military officers?

Or are they just untouchable because it appears they have been touching up the Thai people for well over 70 years.

Go ahead, Mr. Farang, file a complaint with the NACC against the "senior military officers". Or, are you scared, because you don't have a shred of evidence to support your accusation. You don't even have enough of a clue to identify a single person accused. Just a load of noise is all you have.

No smoke without fire!

Until Article 44 cleared the air for everbody, Preecha Chan-ocha was one such candidate.

You might want to have a quick scan of http://thediplomat.com/2014/10/thai-junta-beset-by-corruption-scandals/

[Baerboxer]

So when do the investigations commence into the unusual wealth of senior military officers?

Or are they just untouchable because it appears they have been touching up the Thai people for well over 70 years.

Perhaps about the same time as those into the unusual wealth of Chalerm and all the other wealthy Shin lackeys and their clan leaders.

The elite are the untouchable elite. You have to piss the wrong people off somehow to get investigated, or be a minion.

[Baerboxer]

"However, Somsak added that his failure to include the house in his financial report did not mean he was corrupt."

No, being a politician means that you are corrupt!!

Maybe it was just "an honest mistake". Precedent has been set.

[candide]

The BP article tells a slightly different story which is quite interesting. It appears that Somsak has been denounced by his brother in law, and that according to Somsak the house belongs to his brother in law.

[Thai at Heart]

Shouldn't be hard to work out. It has a title deed presumably.

[Artisi]

Yes, but we can't find it and probably won't be able find it for years, oh! By the way, what's the statute of limitations in this instance.

[MZurf]

A small witch hunt here over a cottage......meanwhile, there are/have been leaders that deal in hundreds of millions in single transactions............

Unusual wealth investigations should be the normal course of action for all leaders, ministers, police, military etc!

There is no question where the money you are alluding to came from. He sold land handed down to him by his father and he has been complete open about that. Which bit is difficult to understand ? - or don't your 'usual sources' go into that much detail ?.

So what you are demanding is that Prayuths father is investigated because he owned some land right ?. But why didn't you say that ?. And should EVERYBODY who owns land over a certain amount be investigated ?.

I have no idea how he owned that land. Neither do you. You just don't like it.

Hi John,

"There is no question where the money you are alluding to came from."

John, in which alternate reality are you living in? In the reality where most of us reside there are serious questions about where his money came from but no one are allowed to investigate, are they John?