The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) have revived a pair of drawn-out graft cases, and have decided in principle to indict and put on trial the former tourism director Juthamas Siriwan and Thailand's top-rated newsman, Sorayuth Suthassanachinda.
Both cases go back to 2005, but have been largely dormant despite occasion investigations that put them back in the spotlight.
Ms Juthamas allegedly took bribes of $1.8 million (53.7 million baht) to cede control of the Bangkok International Film Festival - since discontinued - to an American couple.
Sorayuth, meanwhile, was allegedly involved in a more complicated case, and is suspected of embezzlement of 138 million baht in a deal involving him and the broadcaster Mcot Plc.
A joint panel of the NACC and OAG was set up to examine the case in which Sorayuth was alleged to have embezzled the funds, which were advertising revenue supposedly meant for Mcot, the state-owned operator of Channel 9.
The panel was formed after prosecutors last year called for a re-examination of the case, saying the original NACC investigation was incomplete.
Sorayuth: Questioned in the case of a missing 138 million baht.
Sorayuth, an executive of the Rai Som Company, allegedly embezzled 138 million baht in revenue from surplus advertising time when his company was hired to produce the Khui Khui Khao TV programme for the channel from 2005 to 2006.
He also allegedly paid two Mcot staff members, customer service officer Pitchapha Iamsa-ard and her supervisor Anya Uthai, chief of the general affairs division, to conceal records of actual income.
Montha Thiradet, an executive of Sorayuth’s Raisom Co, was also accused of helping Ms Pitchapha carry out the crime.
Speaking about the probe at a briefing yesterday, OAG spokesman Wanchai Rujanawong said the joint panel of OAG and NACC had completed compiling the evidence.
The OAG representatives will discuss the recommendation to arraign the four people at a meeting with the NACC again before deciding on the indictment, Mr Wanchai said.
He believed there will be no more difference of opinion between the OAG and the NACC. No date has been fixed for the panel’s decision on the indictment, he said.
In the Juthamas case, NACC member Vichai Vivitsevi, the co-chairman of the panel, said the panel had spent a lengthy period gathering evidence after the commission found in 2011 that Ms Juthamas had committed criminal offences as a former state official in connection with the alleged bribery and the agency later recommended the OAG indict her.
After reviewing the investigation summary presented by the NACC, the OAG concluded the NACC investigation was incomplete and called for the formation of the joint panel of the OAG and NACC to consider the case.
The NACC was also told to find additional evidence to make the case stronger.
Juthmas (in 2005 photo): Allegedly sold out the Bangkok International Film Festival to an American couple for $1.8 million.
Ms Juthamas and her daughter were accused of taking bribes from a Los Angeles film-making couple who were awarded a 60-million-baht contract to host the annual Bangkok International Film Festival between 2003 and 2006.
Gerald and Patricia Green allegedly paid Ms Juthamas about US$1.8 million (53.7 million baht) to help secure the Bangkok International Film Festival and related TAT deals between 2002 and 2007.
According to the NACC member, Ms Juthamas has allegedly violated Sections 6 and 11 of the law governing offences committed by state organisations or officials.
She is also alleged to have breached Section 12 of the act governing tendering a price to a state agency, he said.
Ms Juthamas and her daughter have also been indicted in the US for allegedly accepting bribes from the couple.
The Greens were sentenced to six months in jail and six months of home detention for their part in paying bribes to secure the rights to run the festival.
The pair were found guilty of money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
The US Justice Department said there was credible evidence the Greens had paid $1.8 million in bribes to Ms Juthamas in exchange for contracts to run the film festival and other TAT projects.
Mr Vichai said the NACC is in the process of seeking a return of the bribe money back to Thailand.
This is in line with an accord made by Thailand and the US on assistance in criminal cases and under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
The bribe money was seized by US authorities.
Director Joel Schumacher, left, and actor Michael Douglas flank Ms Juthamas as the Bangkok International Film Festival, two of the stars enticed to Thailand in 2005-2007 by the influence of the Greens. (AFP photo)