Cops hand over Supoj assets

Police yesterday handed over cash and gold accessories worth more than 18 million baht belonging to former transport permanent secretary Supoj Saplom to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

The assets were confiscated by Wang Thonglang police station following the arrest of a group of burglars who broke into Mr Supoj’s house on the night of Nov 12, 2011 while he was attending his daughter’s wedding party.

In 2014 the Civil Court ordered the seizure of 46.14 million baht in assets after Mr Supoj and his family, seen as “unusually wealthy”, were unable to explain how they came into possession of some of them. The ruling was upheld by the Appeal Court.

The handover of assets took place at the same police station, witnessed by police and NACC officials. The cash and gold have been stored at the station’s vault since they were seized.

Deputy superintendent Pol Lt Col Chaowalit Ngernchalard said police lacked the authority to stay in possession of the assets any longer.

“The items had to be handed over to the NACC as the case is pending a Supreme Court review,” he said.

In 2011, Mr Supoj told police that thieves stole 5 million baht in cash, but police later seized 18 million baht in cash and 10-bahtweight of gold from the suspects.

Police said the suspects confessed to the robbery.

The theft turned the spotlight on Mr Supoj’s wealth. The NACC launched a probe and found he was unable to clarify how he had amassed such wealth.