Hospitals give back ‘shady’ donation money to Chuvit
Two public hospitals have decided to return donations to whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit, amounting to 3 million baht each.
This comes as Mr Chuvit has come under heavy criticism from a highprofile lawyer over reports of shady sources of money.
Dr Apichart Asavamongkolkul, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, yesterday held a press conference about one of Mr Chuvit’s donations given to the faculty on March 15.
Following reports that the donation might be linked to illegal business dealings, the faculty decided to return the money to Mr Chuvit via proper channels as soon as possible, Dr Apichart said.
The hospital deeply appreciates donations to support research studies and the construction of hospital buildings in compliance with donors’ intentions in a straightforward manner, according to the dean.
After learning that the donation given by Mr Chuvit was not his own money, the hospital would return it so he could deal with it properly within the law, said Dr Apichart.
The hospital’s move came after lawyer Sittra Biabangkerd asked Mr Chuvit to clarify reports that he received 50 million baht from shady sources, far more than the amount he admitted to having received and then donated to the two hospitals.
Mr Chuvit later admitted he had accepted 6 million baht, not 50 million baht, from an associate of a police inspector who is being investigated in connection with a huge illegal online gambling network. He said he donated all that money to Siriraj Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital.
Mr Chuvit confirmed yesterday that the two hospitals had contacted him about the return of the donations.
Mr Sittra, yesterday posted on his Facebook a picture of two shopping bags filled with money which he said was taken at The Davis Bangkok hotel, where two former police generals met with Mr Chuvit and his “beloved” person.
They discussed which illegal online gambling websites should be dealt with and which shouldn’t be touched, claimed Mr Sittra.
The lawyer said he had evidence proving the meeting in question wasn’t just conducted between Mr Chuvit and the two police officials, as claimed by the former politician and massage parlour tycoon.
One of the former police officials has retired, while the other former police official now holds an important position in an organisation tasked with suppressing illegal online gambling.
Pol Col Siriwat Deepor of the Technology Crime Suppression Division said Mr Chuvit’s handling of the money could be considered an act of money laundering, adding that they will investigate Mr Sittra’s claims.