Former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith is confident he can clarify the source of his wealth following the announced seizure of more than 40 million baht worth of assets belonging to him and his wife on Sunday.
Mr Tarit was speaking after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) announced the freezing of 1.7 million baht worth of assets belonging to him and 39.2 million baht worth of assets belonging to his wife, Wassamon.
Mr Tarit, when holding the post of DSI director-general, had a habit of transferring, relocating, transforming and hiding his assets leading to allegations he has amassed unusual wealth, NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said.
The probe was carried out by an NACC sub-committee, chaired by Preecha Lertkamolmart, set up in October last year to look into Mr Tarit's case.
Mr Tarit was also ordered to declare the assets belonging to him, his wife and minor children to the NACC within 30 days in line with the anti-graft act, he added.
Tarit: PM 'wants me out of my job'
Mr Tarit, who was transferred to an advisory role at the Prime Minister's Office following the May 22 coup, said he and his wife were informed by the NACC about the seizure on March 16, more than one month before the official announcement on Sunday.
He said that after being notified, he submitted a letter to the NACC asking for the postponement of his clarification for 30 days. The final day is Monday.
"I am confident I can explain how all of my assets were obtained," Mr Tarit said, adding the NACC's order was only a temporary asset seizure.
He said the order was similar to what he had issued against suspects in DSI investigations, adding he can still stay at his property as usual.
After becoming the secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in 2009, Mr Tarit said he and his wife declared assets worth 37.3 million baht to the NACC. "My asset worth has only risen to 40 million baht in the past five years. Is this called 'unusual' wealth?'' he said.
He said he believed calls for scrutiny of his assets resulted from his work as DSI chief, as he was responsible for multiple cases. He said 30 lawsuits were filed against him following his investigations, but 19 of them were thrown out by the courts.
Asked why he thought the NACC has just announced the asset seizure despite a formal order being made more than one month ago, Mr Tarit said he suspected the announcement was part of a plan for the prime minister to dismiss him from the civil service.
Another reason, he said, would be because his was not included in a 100-name list of state officials suspected of graft that was sent to the premier on Friday. He was sure someone would have wanted his name on it.
According to the NACC, Mr Tarit's frozen assets consist of six bank accounts, a 2-rai land plot in Manorom district of Chai Nat, and valuables in a safety box at the Thai Credit Retail Bank.
Ms Wassamon's frozen assets comprise seven bank accounts, about 1,500 square metres of land in Pathum Thani's Muang district, three land plots covering four rai in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district, a house in Pathum Thani's Muang district, a two-storey house and five buildings in tambon Nong Nam Daeng of Pak Chong district, a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Alphard.
Mr Tarit was said to be close to Somchai Wongsawat, a former prime minister and ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's brother-in-law. Mr Tarit was once brought to work under the PM's Office and was an adviser to the Thaksin government.
He was promoted to take up the post of PACC secretary-general when Sompong Amornvivat became the justice minister under the Samak Sundaravej administration. Following a series of achievements in the post, he was backed by then deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban under the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration to become the DSI chief.
Under Mr Abhisit's government, Mr Tarit proceeded with an investigation into the red-shirt leaders on charges of terrorism in relation to their 2010 anti-government movement.
When Yingluck Shinawatra became prime minister, the DSI turned to accuse Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep of premeditated murder for their crackdowns on the red-shirt demonstration.