News from Thailand – Monday, April 20, 2015
This page contains a selection from the Thai news. We include headlines from major news sources including: Bangkok Post, The Nation, ThaiPBS, MCOT, etc., as well as some regional newspapers such as Phuket Gazette and Pattaya One. Behind the news items is a web link, when you click on it you can read the full article at the English source.
News from Thailand, including:
– Seizure of assets ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith
– Tarit denies being unusually wealthy and says Prayut has something against him
– Teacher among suspected car bomb Koh Samui
– 41 Thai airlines must be re-certified
– Warning for bad weather in Northern provinces
THE NATION
The Nation headlines freezing the assets of ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. The Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says the man is 'unusually wealthy', but he himself denies the accusation of concealing assets. According to The Nation, the NACC has estimated his wealth at 60 million baht, of which 40 million baht has been frozen. According to NACC Secretary General Sansern Polajiak, a commission was appointed on Oct. 30 to investigate the couple's assets. According to Sansern, the NACC's action against Tarit has nothing to do with corruption allegations, but is being carried out solely because of his alleged unusual wealth. The NACC has seized several bank accounts, title deeds of land in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chai Nat and Pathum Thani, two apartments, houses and vehicles, such as a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Alphard, in the course of its investigation: http://goo.gl/PdWsbD
BANGKOK POST
Just like The Nation, Bangkok Post opens with the case of former DSI head Tarit Pengdith and his wife. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ordered a provisional seizure of 40 million baht from the man. The NACC finds it suspicious that Tarit is quite wealthy and suspects him of cheating with money. An interesting detail is that Tarit has close ties with Somchai Wongsawat, former prime minister and brother-in-law of the maligned Thaksin. Apparently the junta doesn't like him, because it suspended the DSI chief after the coup. He himself is not aware of any harm and he says that he can explain all his possessions. He does not call himself unusually rich with a fortune of 60 million baht. He thinks the real reason for his ability freezing is that Prayut has something against him: http://goo.gl/PdWsbD
OTHER NEWS
– Two new suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent bomb attack on Koh Samui. Among them is a 33-year-old teacher who works in Pattani. He is suspected of stealing a pick-up truck that was used for the attack on March 31: http://goo.gl/eYUgZK
– The Ministry of Transport is considering asking Prime Minister Prayut to use Article 44 to solve the problems of aviation safety in Thailand. For example, 41 airlines must be recertified before the end of June: http://goo.gl/5F3kI0
– The northern part of Thailand will have to deal with bad weather. A weather warning has been issued for northern, central and eastern parts of Thailand. Thunderstorms, gusts of wind and hailstorms can occur in the period from 21 to 23 April. This is due to a fairly strong high pressure area that moves through southern China to the northeast of Thailand. Residents in the area should take into account extreme weather conditions: http://goo.gl/308H4y
– You can read more current news on the Twitter feed of Thailandblog.nl: twitter.com/thailand_blog
Well, I wonder how the generals in the government have gathered their wealth… The least has 125 million and the richest 1125. That smells even more of corruption. They want to exterminate the Red Party. This junta leader uses his power to eliminate all his opponents
I think that the great wealth of those generals arose from working many and many overtime hours.
This is only possible with the Thai army.
Jan Beute.
I quote, the least has 125 million.
Now I think I read somewhere that Mr. Prayut has 24 million in assets.
Monte, it seems that you have a list that indicates the ability of the rulers, can you say where to find that list?
Thanks in advance,
Nico B
Prayuth has only 102 million baht. His wife has 26 million and he also has another 566 million parked with his family!!
http://m.todayonline.com/world/asia/thai-pm-revealed-own-millions-personal-assets
http://www.thephuketnews.com/pm-prayuth-can-justify-personal-wealth-49445.php
If Prayut uses article 44 to prevent 41 thai airlines from having to be re-certified, then in my opinion that would be the beginning of the end in terms of safety in thai aviation. So it is to be hoped that Prayut will not honor such a request.
If only the Ministry of Transport had done its job better. To cheat with safety is to play with fire.
Where do you read that Article 44 should be used to PREVENT Thai airlines from having to be re-certified?
Prayut does not even go over that with Article 44, because without certification those aircraft are no longer allowed to land outside Thailand in many countries.
And that is what the relevant (foreign) governments are about and not Prayut.
What article 44 should contribute to that certification eludes me, by the way.
Would the Ministry of Transport think that Article 44 is a magic wand and that one wave will solve all problems?
Prevent mi means in Thai terms “arrange that it is sim salabim” arranged that certification. So indeed wave 1 or at most 2 x with Prayut's magic wand.
But – if that were to happen – foreign countries would not fall for it.
“Tarit denies being unusually wealthy,”
That's probably the best man 'just rich'?
If the man indeed does not have more than 60 million Baht, the man is actually just poor given his former position.
Corruption at that level involves larger amounts.
Furthermore, if he was a friend of Thaksin, he would not have been one of the poor Thai people from a farming village when he started that job.
Of course you have to get to know each other somewhere.
The wealth of ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith is estimated at 40 to 60 million, which is only 2 million euros? That man has (had?) much more, if you only saw that video of breaking open the padlock of the warehouse in the Chiang Watthana Road, there was already much more value than 2 million Euros and then all that expensive rosewood wood, which is found everywhere and those many houses under construction, which served as a shelter to store the wood. Or will other “people” have appropriated some of it?
There were also 147 proofs of ownership found, so it should be more like 40 to 60 billion.
Corruption is still rampant in Thailand .
I still don't notice a difference, just what I already hear in my own living environment.
It's even worse if termites are in your new kitchen.
Jan Beute.