Top Thai official in paintings theft scandal suspended

[webfact]

Top official in paintings theft scandal suspended
By THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- INTELLECTUAL Property Department deputy director-general Suphat Saquandeekul has been suspended from duty pending an investigation into his theft of paintings from a Japanese hotel, the Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday.

 

Apiradi said Suphat had |also called his superior to admit that he had committed the theft while on official business in Kyoto.

 

“He said he was sorry for what happened and apologised to his superior, fellow officials and all Thais for what he had done,” Apiradi said.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30305239

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-30

[CelticBhoy]

No matter how much you hate Mondays, it can't be as bad as the one this guy is having . . 

[z42]

11 minutes ago, CelticBhoy said:

No matter how much you hate Mondays, it can't be as bad as the one this guy is having . . 

I don't know mate, I mean how rigorous can an inactive post really be? There are some really special ones in that office I reckon, pissed by tea time definitely........

[CelticBhoy]

1 minute ago, z42 said:

I don't know mate, I mean how rigorous can an inactive post really be? There are some really special ones in that office I reckon, pissed by tea time definitely........

 

With all the free time he has now he should take up painting  . . . 

[rkidlad]

I'm afraid that any punishment this guy receives won't be about his crime in Japan, but it will be the fact he got caught and embarrassed Thailnd. Not a good message to be sent out to people here. 

[lemonjelly]

Early retirement, full pension, he'll be ok. Hardly the crime of the century, bit daft though.

[piersbeckett]

It can't get much more embarrassing than this; an intellectual property national official who can't keep his hands off other peoples' tangibles whist on official business in a foreign country.  The irony; there's only one way out; harikari, suspended, he'll never live it down!

 

[Thian]

Just fire him on the spot...i wonder how many people Thailand has who have to work inactive posts....I wouldn't pay tax for them..The RTP also do nothing all day and they are not even on inactive posts yet.

[mok199]

I have 2 questions 1) what the <deleted> is an intellectual property deputy director..2)what the <deleted> is an intellectual property deputy director....time to ''drain this swamp''

[Sphere]

38 minutes ago, lemonjelly said:

Early retirement, full pension, he'll be ok. Hardly the crime of the century, bit daft though.

 

Is due to retire in September 2017 anyway according to the BP.

[SABloke]

...Suphat Saquandeekul has been suspended from duty pending an investigation into his theft of paintings from a Japanese hotel...

"Apiradi said Suphat had also called his superior to admit that he had committed the theft while on official business in Kyoto."

Don't really see the need for an investigation then

[Brer Fox]

I seem to recall previous instances where high ranking officials have been naughty and transgressed from the righteous path set out by the PM they get transferred to the staff of his office where he can give them some one-on-one re-education on how not to embarrass him and the nation.

[JAG]

 
Is due to retire in September 2017 anyway according to the BP.

Ah well, spot of gardening leave, leisurely hand over to his replacement, annual holiday entitlement, couple of months on the inactive list and the whole thing goes away...

[mikebell]

He has shamed Thailand by getting caught.  Sack him - make an example of him. Government officials should be above reproach.

[IMA_FARANG]

So he was suspended.

Good, yesterday he was supposedly going free.

I have personally no dislike for him, but if you do somrthing against the rules you have to pay the price.

No matter what your nationality or where you are at the time.

[mfd101]

44 minutes ago, mok199 said:

I have 2 questions 1) what the f is an intellectual property deputy director..2)what the f is an intellectual property deputy director....time to ''drain this swamp''

Managing intellectual property in Thailand would be more of an import than an export issue, I should imagine.

[waldroj]

Interesting Thai view expressed by my wife this morning - "...this guy is obviously not well, and in need of some treatment..."!

 

Wonder if that sympathetic view will become the official response too? 

 

Either way, it's now up to the investigating "committee" to apply their interpretation of Chapters 6 and 7 of the Civil Service Act, and then choose an action from Section 88, viz:  

 

A civil servant who commits a breach of  discipline must receive a disciplinary punishment, unless there is reasonable cause for exempting punishment as provided in Chapter 7 Disciplinary Proceedings.

 

There are 5 modes of disciplinary punishment, as follows:  

(1)  written reprimand;  

(2)  deduction of salary;

(3) reduction of salary;  

(4)  dismissal;  

(5)  expulsion. 

[worgeordie]

Inactive post ,so on holiday again,no way is he going to

get the sack,they never do.

regards worgeordie

[mtls2005]

"Suspended" pending an "investigation".

 

Time to speed off to the local wat for haircut and robe-fitting.

 

Then back to the job after a 3 month paid vacation.

 

Now tell me who's protecting all those vendors selling knock-off handbags in MBK?

[RichardColeman]

Suspended - until it is forgotten.

[robblok]

53 minutes ago, waldroj said:

Interesting Thai view expressed by my wife this morning - "...this guy is obviously not well, and in need of some treatment..."!

 

Wonder if that sympathetic view will become the official response too? 

 

Either way, it's now up to the investigating "committee" to apply their interpretation of Chapters 6 and 7 of the Civil Service Act, and then choose an action from Section 88, viz:  

 

A civil servant who commits a breach of  discipline must receive a disciplinary punishment, unless there is reasonable cause for exempting punishment as provided in Chapter 7 Disciplinary Proceedings.

 

There are 5 modes of disciplinary punishment, as follows:  

(1)  written reprimand;  

(2)  deduction of salary;

(3) reduction of salary;  

(4)  dismissal;  

(5)  expulsion. 

I am not sure what it warrants.. but something should be done... I would not feel he should lose his pension over it or anything of that magnitude.. maybe 1 tm 3 or 4. It was only a 5000 baht theft but he was in an exemplary function.. 

[Wowed]

Doesn'the he get punished for damaging the reputation of Thailand?  If he would be a small figure they would have put him in prison already. So much about justice.  5555555

[mtls2005]

I am not sure what it warrants..

 

Mushroom picking...15 years in jail (yes, I know they were released after 15 months but only after the outcry)

 

Contribute to the death of nine people... a few hours of community service

 

Order the murder of 90 fellow citizens...Amnesty

 

Notice a trend here?

 

 

[Lupatria]

With an inactive post he finally has the time to make his dream come true and open his own art gallery.

[wallybee]

I think you are all missing the point.

The Japanese hotel should have been indicted for having paintings of this famous pornostar on their walls, causing an, legally acquitting, irrestible response by an healthy Thai male.

[The man from udon]

20 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I am not sure what it warrants..

 

Mushroom picking...15 years in jail (yes, I know they were released after 15 months but only after the outcry)

 

Contribute to the death of nine people... a few hours of community service

 

Order the murder of 90 fellow citizens...Amnesty

 

Notice a trend here?

 

 

Not forgetting the tourist caught in Phuket with 2 tiny  parrot fish in a plastic bottle and fined 100,000b.the Thai justice system is a serious problem.

[robblok]

14 minutes ago, The man from udon said:

Not forgetting the tourist caught in Phuket with 2 tiny  parrot fish in a plastic bottle and fined 100,000b.the Thai justice system is a serious problem.

Yes that is a shameful one the 100.000 bt fine.. if you check how many big fishing boats are fishing in Koh Chang (also a nature park).

[Deez]

He admitted he did it. What is there to "investigate"?

[Reigntax]

Just what investigation is required. Caught red handed, admitted stealing it to his boss, paid off the Japs to be freed.

 

Mitigating circumstances? Only if he is a diognosed kleptomanic.

[Zyxel]

"Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is the recurrent failure to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated."

  Live him alone and let him get treatment.