CSI LA page threatens it will expose more watches
Chutima richest with 238.8 million baht
More of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon’s luxury wristwatches will be publicly exposed if the National Anticorruption Commission (NACC) fails to conduct a thorough and transparent probe, an administrator of the crowd-sourced CSI LA Facebook page warned yesterday.
The popular Thai-language page has published photos showing the regime’s No.2 man wearing 25 timepieces worth 39.5 million baht (US$1.24 million), prompting critics to question how he was able to afford them on the salary of a military man, and why he failed to list them among his declared assets.
Gen Prawit countered by saying they all belonged to friends of his and have since been returned. In a rare explosion of bluster he recently threatened to resign from the cabinet if the NACC finds him guilty of wrongdoing.
The anti-graft agency chaired by Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit must do its job properly or face the consequences, the administrator, who works as a data analyst in the US, told the Bangkok Post, requesting anonymity.
The source said the data released on the Facebook page was reliable and accurate, adding that all of the photos come from the official websites of the Thai government, Ministry of Defence and mainstream media.
Numerous activists have filed petitions and called for the NACC to broaden its probe to ensure that Gen Prawit is not concealing more assets or showing signs of “unusual wealth”.
“None of the photos released on my page were edited or Photoshopped. All of the information and photos are reliable and accurate,” he said.
“There are more photos of undeclared luxury watches worn by Gen Prawit than I have already released, but I’ve chosen to stop at the 25th for now to see how NACC will exercise its power on this case,” he added.
The online sleuth said he will monitor how the case is progressing. If the NACC is seen to be helping Gen Prawit get off the hook he vowed to release more pictures to heap more pressure on the graftbusters and the politician.
Meanwhile, Pol Gen Watcharapol, a former subordinate of Gen Prawit’s, continues to face stepped-up calls to conduct a fair and impartial probe.
“The NACC must work as transparently as possible because this case is in the national interest and has drawn huge attention. But now it looks like the agency is trying to buy time,” the page administrator said.
He urged the commission to take into account some of the questions posed on the Facebook page, such as how coincidental it is that all of Gen Prawit’s “friends” have the same wrist size as he does.
“How can he tell the NACC he borrowed the timepieces from friends one or two years ago when some of the pictures were taken four or five years ago?” he asked.
“I think that his explanation to the NACC insults the intelligence of the Thai people.”
The assets and liabilities of new and soon-to-be-departing cabinet ministers were revealed yesterday, showing Deputy Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara to be the wealthiest of all.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is investigating Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan over his collection of 25 luxury watches, made the announcement yesterday.
The ministers on the list either took office last November or are due to step down in the same month this year. Their spouses are included in the calculations.
The assets on the list include accessories and collectibles, watches that cost upward of several hundred baht and Buddha statues valued at between 500 and 2,500 baht (US$16-80).
According to the NACC’s records, Ms Chutima had a declared worth of 238.8 million baht. Most of his assets were in the form of investments, valued at 134.9 million baht, including 10 watches worth a total of 200,000 baht.
Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn and his spouse were the wealthiest among those newly added to the list. Their declared assets were worth 179.1 million baht, mostly in the form of investments.
PM’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool had 23 million baht more assets than debts including a piano worth 535,000 baht and car accessories valued at 197,500 baht, the list showed.
Deputy Defence Minister Gen Chaichan Changmongkol and his spouse had 30 million baht more assets than liabilities.
Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat and his spouse had 60 million baht more assets than debts including two guns, and a wristwatch valued at over 200,000 baht.
Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan had 16 million baht more assets than debts.
Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach and his spouse had 15.2 million baht more assets than debts including three guns, one Rolex valued at 287,270 baht, one Longines worth 129,026 baht and accessories worth 250,000 baht.
He declared 16 amulets but could not estimate their value.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn and his spouse had 28.5 million baht more assets than debts. Most were land and property in Ratchaburi.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Luck Wajananawat and his spouse had 84.5 million baht more assets than debts. They included a gun, three wristwatches worth 10,000 baht each and 17 Buddha statutes valued at between 500 and 2,500 baht apiece.
Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachintorn and his spouse had 66.9 million baht more assets than debts while the comparable number for Deputy Industry Minister Somchai Hanhiran and his wife stood at 72.4 million baht.
Among the cabinet ministers who had changed posts, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya and his spouse had 35.2 million baht more assets than debts including three watches. Their prices ranged from 200,000 baht to 700,000 baht.
Social Development and Human Security Minister Gen Anantaporn Kanjanarat and his spouse had 48.8 million baht more assets than debts including three watches worth between 250,000 baht and 920,000 baht.
Only one of the ministers who vacated office on Nov 23 — former science and technology minster Atchaka Sibunruang — was poorer than recorded in the last round of declared assets.
Ms Atchaka had 82 million baht more assets than debts when taking office in 2016 but that has since fallen to 72.3 million baht. This represented a loss of 9.9 million baht.