The questions are simple. Whose luxury watches are they that Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has been seen wearing? If they are his, were they legitimately acquired by money within his means? If not, how did they end up on his wrist?
It is most perplexing that a military man with such an illustrious career like Gen Prawit has not addressed these questions clearly and straightforwardly.
Instead, it appears as if the defence minister and former army chief were content to let scandals about the diamond ring and wristwatch he was seen wearing during a group photo session of new cabinet members on Dec 4 rage on.
Atiya Achakulwisut is a columnist, Bangkok Post.
Is he aware that his reputation is being burned? Gen Prawit may have replied to reporters by declaring he has never been involved in corrupt practices in his entire career. His silence on the dubious jewellery collection, however, is suggesting otherwise.
As net users go on a photo-hunting game with Gen Prawit's wrist and come up with more brands of seemingly luxury watches spotted on it, one can't help but wonder what is holding the government's "Big Brother" back from addressing the issue?
Let's start with the very first question: Should the diamond ring and Richard Mille watch be on Gen Prawit's assets list?
When the bling-bling first caught the sunlight and sparked public curiosity on Dec 4, Gen Prawit told reporters inquiring about the fancy items that they are "old items I have worn regularly".
His answer made the matter a little more complicated: If these items were indeed old ones, why weren't they included in assets declarations he filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the most recent of which was in 2014?
By the way, punishment for state officials who intentionally file an incorrect assets declaration statement with the NACC is removal from office and a five-year ban, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, six months' imprisonment, or both.
It's possible Gen Prawit acquired the ring and watch some time after 2014 and has not updated his assets list. After all, the law only requires that officials declare their assets when taking and leaving office.
In that case, Gen Prawit would only have to show that he could afford to buy the jewellery items which together could cost up to 10 million baht. He may have a regular income of only 874,308 baht per year according to his latest NACC declaration, but he is worth more than 87 million baht altogether.
Of his total assets, 53 million baht was listed as deposits alone. The amount of money should make the ring and watch problem go away easily. A man with more than 50 million baht in the bank should be able to afford a Richard Mille, Rolex Daytona or Patek Phillippe should he care for one or more, shouldn't he?
All that Gen Prawit would have to show to convince people that his ring and timepieces, no matter how many there are and how luxurious they may be, are legitimately acquired are just his proof of purchase and ownership.
Receipts matching the serial numbers are all he would ever need to clear his reputation and reclaim his dignity as a former army chief and man of honour who has never engaged in corruption that he boldly declared himself to be.
If that is the case, it's anybody's guess why it seems so hard for Gen Prawit to come forward with the necessary evidence and prove his innocence, not just to the NACC but the public at large.
One new report, however, suggests his assets scandal could be more complicated and harder to explain than people may have thought. A close aide of Gen Prawit let the media know that the expensive watches, including the controversial Richard Mille, were on loan from a businessman friend. Unfortunately, the friend died earlier this year and Gen Prawit has not returned the items. The close aide admitted Gen Prawit felt under pressure as he did not know how to make the public believe his story.
Gen Prawit was quite correct. The story is not believable. It's unusual for a "businessman friend" to have loaned him expensive timepieces for an extended period of time when he is still alive. It's downright suspicious and dishonourable for the deputy prime minister not to have returned the pricey items to his friend's family after his death.
As simple as the questions faced by Gen Prawit are, his attempts to answer them seem to have become increasingly complex and peculiar. More are expected to come as Gen Prawit has a few more weeks to test them out with the public to see if one may eventually fly. Time is tiring indeed for the Big Brother.