Former finance secretary Anuthep out on bail

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Former finance secretary Anuthep out on bail
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A former deputy permanent secretary for finance, accused of fraud, was granted release on bail by Min Buri Provincial Court in Bangkok yesterday.

Anuthep Uthanesoot, 78, who was sought in relation to an alleged pyramid scheme by Rivergold Inter Co Ltd that reportedly defrauded people out of Bt12 million for investments in stem-cell products, was arrested at the border checkpoint near Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew on Sunday evening.

Anuthep initially denied wrongdoing during questioning, claiming that Rivergold Inter executives had invited him to be board chairman, which he accepted under the impression that the company was a legitimate direct-sales firm. He said he quit after failing to receive his salary via normal system.

Anuthep was taken to the court by police yesterday morning for approval so he could be detained for 12 days pending investigation into the case.

Relatives applied for him to be released on bail and placed a property deed worth Bt5 million as collateral. The court, seeing he was elderly, had a credible guarantee and was unlikely to flee, granted him bail for an estimated Bt2.5 million.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Former-finance-secretary-Anuthep-out-on-bail-30274549.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-09

[tompelli]

Anuthep elderly & unlikely to flee?? Remind me again where was he arrested?

[tuanku]

At his age, any custodial sentence is likely to be a life sentence. Defrauding people for dodgy investments in very possibly unethical human fetal stem cell projects. Hard to select the side to cheer for here.

[jaywalker]

Anuthep elderly & unlikely to flee?? Remind me again where was he arrested?

"The court, seeing he was elderly, had a credible guarantee and was unlikely to flee, granted him bail for an estimated Bt2.5 million."

Why estimated? What did he bail himself out with? A collection of Andy Warhol paintings? Baseball card collection? Magic amulets?

Estimated the court would only get to keep that much when he slips out to Singapore?

I'm confused.

[tompelli]

Anuthep elderly & unlikely to flee?? Remind me again where was he arrested?

"The court, seeing he was elderly, had a credible guarantee and was unlikely to flee, granted him bail for an estimated Bt2.5 million."

Why estimated? What did he bail himself out with? A collection of Andy Warhol paintings? Baseball card collection? Magic amulets?

Estimated the court would only get to keep that much when he slips out to Singapore?

I'm confused.

As I read it, his relatives put up a land/property deed worth 5M THB. Court says way too much, we'll only take half, when he finds the hole in the fence at the Cambodian border, we'll only take 2.5M. He is supposed to have committed a 12M THB fraud, so who says crime doesn't pay?

[Ulic]

At 78 he just has to stay out of jail for long enough for nature to take its course.