Bhumjaithai declares donations are all 'legal'

The Bhumjaithai Party (BJP) on Wednesday offered a clearer explanation as to why it believes all donations received from a construction company allegedly owned by some nominees of Saksayam Chidchob, the suspended transport minister and party secretary-general, are lawful.

All donations, including those received from Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership, have been declared properly to the Election Commission (EC), party registrar Supachai Jaisamut said yesterday.

Mr Saksayam has been suspended from duty while the Constitutional Court deliberates on his alleged concealment of shares in Burijarearn Construction.

Since 2018, the party has received more than 362 million baht in donations from individuals, juristic persons or companies. The donations were also recorded and reported to the EC, said Mr Supachai.

Of this amount, 10 million baht was received in 2018, 161 million baht in 2019, 24.88 million baht in 2020, 35.95 million baht in 2021, 123.19 million baht last year and 8.73 million baht from January to the middle of March this year, he said.

These donations were made in cash, while a number of donated assets had also been listed and reported to the EC for public scrutiny, he said.

Thanit Sriprathet, former secretary-general of the EC who is now a member of Bhumjaithai's legal team, said Bhumjaithai is required to verify the legal status of all donors, which the party always does.

Asked about the alleged link between Mr Saksayam and the people holding shares in Burijarearn Construction, Mr Thanit said the party found the company has a legal status as a construction firm.

Claims by former massage parlour tycoon turned whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit that the company is a nominee of Mr Saksayam was a figment of Mr Chuvit's imagination, Mr Saksayam said.

• Chuvit shadows Bhumjaithai in Bangkok