Somsak cleared of unusual wealth charge



BANGKOK: -- Former education minister Somsak Prisanananthakul was cleared of unusual wealth charge after the National Legislative Assembly today voted not to impeach him.

Somsak, a former advisor to Chart Thai Pattana party, received 109 votes in his favour, and 82 against.

There were three abstentions and one void in the secret voting ended shortly before noon today.

It needs 132 votes or three-fifth of the total 220 members of the NLA to make impeachment effective.

Somsak was accused of unusual wealth when the anti corruption commission detected he owned a 16- million baht home in Ang Thong province and did not declare the property to the commission.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/somsak-cleared-of-unusual-wealth-charge


-- Thai PBS 2015-11-13

Somsak escapes impeachment
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former education minister Somsak Prissanananthakul Friday escaped impeachment by the National Legislative Assembly because the number of votes against him did not reach the required three fifths of 220 NLA members.

The NLA conducted the impeachment vote at 10:10 am and 109 NLA members voted to support the impeachment motion of the National Anti-Corruption Commission while 82 voted in favour of Somsak.

An impeachment motion requires 132 votes of three fifths to have effect.

The NACC alleged that Somsak was unusually rich for failing to declare his house worth Bt16 million in Anthong when he was the education minister.

The vote was done in secret balloting.

The vote was done in secret balloting.

The NLA meeting was closed at 11:43 am after the vote results were announced.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Somsak-escapes-impeachment-30272847.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-13

Why even bother, nothing will ever change.

Big Surprise. NOT.

The problem is that everyone is scared that if they should ever set a precedent by convicting someone of having unusual wealth, they could be next.

They put this to a vote?

Well well,who would have thought that would be the result.

It must be a damn fine house, but realistically ฿16 million is still NOT a lot of money for one! One only hopes (for his sake) that it is not brim full of Asian antiques!

There is no dispute that he had legitimate title of the land before the building of the house commenced in 1998. And, as he had been a government minister over a considerable time, it's reasonable to assume that he could have acquired sufficient funds (through his status) to be able to build the house.

Although the impeachment ballot fell short of the 132 votes needed, one would think the damage done to his credibility should be sufficient to end his political involvement.

That said, there are plenty of other public officials, military officers, police, and politicians with far greater wealth (well in excess of what one would reasonably expect to see from a single lifetime of honest work).

"Former education minister Somsak Prisanananthakul was cleared of unusual wealth charge..."

It was concluded that he did not have unusual wealth....For a Thai official.

It was also interesting that the article mentioned twice that "The vote was done in secret balloting". No need to reveal who his cronies are.

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by jaltsc

They put this to a vote?

If independent investigating authorities detect irregularities in the financial information of politicians, then politicians vote about the result?

Difficult to comprehend.

They protect themselves, as always.

Pure Happiness.

Nothing will change here.

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by tomacht8

I still think it is non-productive for the NLA to be staging these impeachment proceedings of former officials. Let the courts sort it out.

Thai PBS and The Nation forgot(?) to mention only 195 out of 220 NLA members participated to the vote! Where were the missing 25 NLA members then? Attending more important business elsewhere maybe, or ...? Changes and reforms, hmm... Yeah, sure!

I have been cleared also of being unusually good looking. I am ok now after the ordeal.

No change, T.I.T.

16M aint a lot!

Next he'll be suing the newspaper for libel and defamation for printing that he made a 16 million baht house on an lowly official salary (even though in the alternate universe known as reality, he did). Crazy days in Thailand.

Another "Honest mistake"

regards worgeordie

...so, apparently he got his wealth the usual way...

16M aint a lot!

Can I be your friend?

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by sambum

Of course he was. Did anybody expect anything different?

No transparency what-so-ever and no mention of how he proved his wealth was legally acquired. Oh Thailand, you are so corrupt and so predictable.

Well a great deal of his wealth has recently vanished , he must be innocent he is a hiso.

Everyone is worried that one day the spotlight of unusual wealth will be directed at them.

I still think it is non-productive for the NLA to be staging these impeachment proceedings of former officials. Let the courts sort it out.

I agree. And in particular in the current situation. As they have been appointed by the Junta, they don't even have a democratic legitimacy.

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by candide

Wow ,unbelievable

They put this to a vote?

Exactly...not being impeached does not prove innocence. This country...<deleted>

I assume it is now too late for a criminal case against him. So that was the best the NACC could do.

They put this to a vote?

And a secret one where no one is accountable??? Well, LOS certainly does not stand for Land Of Surprises. Amazing Thailand.........NOT!!!

...so, apparently he got his wealth the usual way...

Well said!!! The usual way of course being, well, the usual way. The same usual way all those who voted No, got theirs.

Isn't it ironic that those that nobody voted for got to vote on someone that the people voted for by hook or buy crook. Charging and prosecuting politicians and public servants, including Army and Police generals, who can't justify unusual wealth would be the greatest thing that could ever happen to Thailand....... but don't think I'll ever see the day.

I wonder if the records of taxes paid for these wealthy individuals would match their assets. Isn't that how they got Al Capone? After all if you have legitimately acquired say 600M Baht over a period of 20 years, then there should be a record of the taxes you have paid on the earnings - or is this too naive?