Thongtong panel's 'no-case' decision a letdown

No effort made to find the source of Supoj's questionable wealth

Published: 21/02/2012 at 07:01 PM
Online news: Opinion

Barely three months after the inquiry into the alleged unusual wealth of Supoj Saplom began the team has thrown in the towel, ending the investigation and raising public suspicions about the government's sincerity in promising to deal harshly with the problem of corruption.

Dr Sungsidh Piriyarangsan of Rangsit University made a good point in his reaction to the decision by the Thongthong Chandrangsu fact-finding committee to end its probe into the source of transport permanent secretary Supoj's surprisingly large fortune.

Thongthong Chandrangsu (Photo by Kosol Nakachol)

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About the author

: Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul; Position: Former Editor

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johninbkk
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Discussion 18 : 22/02/2012 at 06:02 PM18
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The NACC has credibility? It's head was appointed by the coup government. The money that Supoj (a member of BJT) has was likely from AV's Khem Kaeng projects. Does the coup government want AV's projects to appear tainted with corruption? The NACC quietly shut down other corruption investigations involving the BJT - such as the hundred men invading the airport parking lot or the computer leasing scheme (to name a few). Why would it start now?
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bula
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Discussion 17 : 22/02/2012 at 05:46 AM17
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Khun ronald #13
Which case are you referring to? I said : We must have convincing evidence so that the Government is not seen as persecuting its opponent. The government must proceed every case according to rule of law, justice, equality and human right principle. I am saying every case. On the case of Supoj Saplom, it already has the potential to become a political issue because he is a BJT member and the press reports have also raised the temperature.
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bula
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Discussion 16 : 22/02/2012 at 05:35 AM16
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Khun howell #11
Coup made it a political issue instead of civil law charges.
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bangmodken
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Discussion 15 : 22/02/2012 at 02:06 AM15
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I doubt NACC's "investigation" will end much differently. Supoj has had more than 3 months to "grease" the right people.
D14 : That's how many or most of the politicians and government officials lives here. Way above their legal means. The real problem here is that if Supoj were found unusually rich,that would endanger all the others. Ask any politician or government official if that would be good a good idea.
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drsmith
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Discussion 14 : 21/02/2012 at 11:44 PM14
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Ask Thongthong to investigate tax records and find out how a government employee can afford 5 new cars, 3 maids and a 25,000,000 baht house. That should be pretty easy to pin down with no excuses.
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ronald
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Discussion 13 : 21/02/2012 at 11:13 PM13
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K.Bula. this is not about political convictions, it is about the law, which does not exist in Thailand anyway. Until Thailand has an Independent Law and Police system, are taken away from Government influence, it is Third World. The PT or DP are not going to take the Country forward. Continue with same attitude & Thailand is going to be like Pakistan.
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bluebkk
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Discussion 12 : 21/02/2012 at 11:07 PM12
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Of course this government is not serious in fighting corruption....not difficult to understand if we see who their paymaster is....
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howell
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Discussion 11 : 21/02/2012 at 10:23 PM11
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@bula. 'Thaksin is politically persecuted and convicted'.

Thaksin's argument is that the case was politically motivated. Irrelevant ! He was convicted and has 4 other charges of corruption to face should he decide to end his 'self imposed exile' as BP call it.

Self imposed on the run is a more accurate description.
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bula
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Discussion 10 : 21/02/2012 at 10:01 PM10
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Khun bkk-farang #9
Only political solution can solve problems resulted from politically motivated persecution and conviction.
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bula
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Discussion 9 : 21/02/2012 at 09:34 PM9
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Those who touched on the case of Thaksin: I still say that our Thailand should have had continued with the process of law. I believed if Thaksin had committed the wrong doings as alleged, and Thai continue to persist according to the rule of law, the rule of law will prevail. Coup toppled TRT/Thaksin and that destroyed the credibility of judiciary. It also destroyed the enforcement of law. Everything then became politically motivated. I am keeping the issue that Thailand is in a peculiar transition involving power struggle as separate issue in my reply on the matter of rule of law here. As far as I am concern, Thaksin is politically persecuted and convicted. There is no convincing evidence because of coup.
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