Anti-graft probe into ‘Rolex General’ dropped, sparks public anger

BANGKOK: A graft probe into the luxury watch collection of Thailand’s junta number two was dropped yesterday, sparking the ire of the public and political opponents of the military.

The country’s anti- corruption agency cited ‘no grounds’ for an investigation into the scandal surrounding Prawit Wongsuwan’s penchant for pricey timepieces, which captivated the kingdom earlier this year and drew criticisms in a rare lightning rod of dissent as the Thai public grew weary after four years of military rule.

The 73-year- old was caught last December wearing a luxury watch in a photo, inspiring online sleuths to dig up old photos of at least 22 watches collectively worth US$1.2 million on his wrist, including 11 Rolexes, eight Patek Philippes and three Richard Milles.

Questions arose over how a general on a relatively humble public servant’s salary could afford items undeclared on his US$ 2.7 million list of assets on taking office, leading the kingdom’s antigraft agency to open a probe into his wrist bling.

The National Anti- Corruption Commission ( NACC) announced yesterday in a press conference its eight-person committee voted 5-3 to dismiss the case.

“This case has no grounds that General Prawit Wongsuwan had intended...to hide the truth or had intended to hide the origins of such assets,” said NACC deputy secretary- general Worawit Sukboon.