Sakulthorn Juangroonruangkit, the younger brother of Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn, acknowledged a charge of colluding to bribe a Crown Property Bureau official for a land lease deal yesterday.
Mr Sakulthorn reported to the Crime Suppression Division about 10.30am yesterday, accompanied by his lawyer. He is accused of colluding with Prasit Aphaiphoncharn, a Crown Property Bureau official, and Surakiat Tangwithoowanich, to unlawfully lease a plot owned by the bureau.
Prasit and Surakiat were both convicted by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in November 2019 for asking for 20 million baht from Mr Sakulthorn -- chief executive of Real Asset Development -- to bypass the Crown Property Bureau's land lease procedure. The pair were released from prison in early December last year.
Investigators said Mr Sakulthorn should also be prosecuted as he paid the bribe -- a violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum prison term of five years and/or fine of 100,000 baht. A police source said investigators will look into whether other executives of Real Asset Development -- including Mr Sakulthorn's mother, Somporn, and Mr Thanathorn -- were involved. Mr Sakulthorn was interrogated for about five hours. Afterwards, he spoke briefly to reporters, denying he had done anything wrong.
He had done the right thing to help the state, he said.
Mr Sakulthorn said he had nothing to do with the two men who were convicted and jailed by the court and he had explained the objective of the land deal to police.