COMMENTARY
THIRASANT MANN
As John Lennon judiciously put it: "Time wounds all heels."
Even the well-heeled. In stilettos, no less.
What? Moi? In jail? For 3 pee? Not bloody likely.
So she bailed out on five million baht. Chip choi pennies.
And if one believes the rumours, her husband might be considering the same option.
A long time ago she'd told him to bail out of politics but that had been impossible then, khee lang sua, riding the political tiger and all that...
The coup had actually done him a favour; now only if they'd bury the hatchet and return his billions, he'd really keep out of politics. Oh, and they must stop asking him for donations.
By the way, he still couldn't fathom why his lawyers had done something so seriously stupid as to try and bribe the judges. And why with only 2 million baht? As a doctorate holder in criminal justice, he could have told them judges didn't come that cheap. This alone was proof they'd acted without his knowledge or consent.
The rumours say he'll likely be riding the Asavahame Express. Buy a Cambodian island outright and set up a tax-free otopia which would flourish under enlightened gobblisation - yes to organics, yes to GMOs (so long as they're labelled "For Export"), yes to stem cell research.
He'd take his university with him as well and set up a top-notch hospital to rival Bumrungraj in sex-change facilities.
Where he would wine and dine the long line of visiting generals and tycoons dropping in to seek his sage advice and ask after his health like salesmen selling life insurance.
The first-class casino he'd open would bring in so much money he'd no longer cry havoc and pray the dogs of war be loosed over ancient ruins under which were buried billions in frozen assets, without which his ranking had slipped from fourth-richest billionaire in 2006 prior to the coup, to the 16th richest millionaire in the country, according to Forbes Asia.
The millions pouring in would also negate the need to sell Man City. (Of course it would be a different matter if they pressured him into selling it, not wanting the team to have any association with a person whose wife had been convicted of tax evasion. A verdict that is being contested, but bloody naturally!)
So, as per usual in amazing Thailand, it was the thao lang leg of the elephant that had to bear the brunt of this particular landmine. Thank Buddha for Thai women.
Indeed, the legal screws were now tightening by the day. What seemed quite improbable even under the rule of the coup-installed government a year ago, was now unfolding before his unbelieving eyes and right under the nose of his proxy govt, which was proving powerless against the judiciary.
Four corruption cases had been filed in the courts against him, two others against his wife, and three cases against two of his children. Many others were under investigation by state agencies which had no legal authority to strip-search him.
This proxy government was proving useless and could expire in the dead of any given night. How could it hope to amend the charter when it was already breaking up into fractious factions? Like the Wang Nam Yen, Wang Nam Yom, Wang Bua Ban and Wang Phaya Nark factions in his dearly departed and deeply mourned Thai Rak Thai party, the wangkers in People Power were tearing the party apart.
And with the PAD-thai getting nuttier by the day, baying for blood like batty vampires, there really was no sense in hanging around waiting for the noose to tighten.
Better now to flee and live to fight another day. If nothing else, the buffaloes in the Northeast would still be there when he returned... someday. As they also say, time heals all wounds - but best not to bet on it.
Thirasant Mann is a sub-editor of Bangkok Post.
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