18th Prawit luxury watch spotted
published : 10 Jan 2018 at 11:41
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Wassana Nanuam
The latest luxury watch spotted on the wrist of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been identified on social media.
The CSI LA Facebook page posted a photo Tuesday showing Gen Prawit wearing the watch and singled it out as a Patek Philippe 5135R Calendario Annual Calendar worth about 1.5 million baht.
The photo is said to have been taken on March 22, 2016 when Gen Prawit performed merit making in Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai.
It is the 18th luxury watch seen being worn by Gen Prawit.
Social media was first set abuzz after the deputy PM was shown wearing a platinum Richard Mille RM 029, with a value of about 2.5 million baht, at a Government House event late last year.
None of these luxury watches were included in Gen Prawit's assets declaration submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
The NACC is now investigating the scandal and its president has said if more watches have been found, the NACC might have to take more time to collect evidence.
The NACC previously called for patience from the media as the results of the probe will be revealed at the end of this month or early next month.
An unconfirmed report said Gen Prawit might report to the NACC that he borrowed the watches from his friends to wear at special events.
Meanwhile, political activist Ekachai Hongkangwan arrived at the government complaint centre on Tuesday to present his own watch to Gen Prawit as a "gift", arguing that the deputy prime minister should not have to "borrow" other people's watches and should have one of his own.
Mr Ekachai claimed his watch is a 10-year-old Seiko and was a "suitable gift", since "watches don't have to be extravagant, so long as they can tell time".
Around 10 supporters of Mr Ekachai's move to present the watch were seen handing out calendars with pictures of Gen Prawit wearing luxury wristwatches.
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Vocabulary
- abuzz: filled with noise and activity - เต็มไปด้วยเสียงดังอึกทึก
- activist: someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation - นักกิจกรรม
- asset: a thing of value - สิ่งที่มีคุณค่า
- borrow: to take and use something that belongs to somebody else, and return it to them at a later time - ยืม
- calendar: a printed table showing all the days, weeks and months of the year - ปฏิทิน
- declaration: an official statement that something is true - การยืนยัน, คำให้การ
- evidence: facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime - หลักฐาน
- extravagant (adj): spending a lot more money or using a lot more of something than you can afford or than is necessary - ฟุ่มเฟือย
- luxury: the best and most expensive of something - ที่หรูหรา
- make merit: to do good things according to religious beliefs - ทำบุญ
- patience: the ability to wait for a long time without becoming angry or upset - ความอดทน
- platinum (n): a precious metal used in making expensive jewellery and in industry -
- scandal (noun): a situation in which people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks people - เรื่องอื้อฉาว
- single out: to choose one person, organisation, etc. from a group for special attention - เลือกเฉพาะ, เลือกจากกลุ่ม
- suitable: acceptable or right for someone or something - เหมาะสม
