THAILAND SUPRERME COURT DELIVERS BLOW TO

THAI CORRUPTION  

Supreme court begins trial on land deal against Thaksin

BangkokPost.com) - The Supreme Court began corruption proceedings Tuesday against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in relation to the land deal case. It is the first criminal trial against him since he was ousted by a military coup in 2006.Mr Thaksin and his wife did not attend the trial's opening, as their lawyers had earlier asked the court to proceed in their absence.The court called Chart Thai party leader and former prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa in as the first witness.Mr Banharn told reporters before testifying that he had not met with the couple and vowed to speak the truth.Democrat chief adviser and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai was also in the courtroom as he was expected to testify later.Mr Thaksin and his wife are facing trial over Khunying Potjaman's purchase of 33 rai of land in the Ratchadapisek area from the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) under the Bank of Thailand.Both have denied charges of wrongdoing.Mr Thaksin was accused of abusing his position as prime minister by helping his wife get a heavy discount for the land purchase.The prosecution claimed the 772 million baht they paid for the land was far lower than the market price. Bangkok Post Jul 08, 2008

Supreme Court upholds EC's red card against Yongyuth
The Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the decision of the Election Commission to give a red card against Yongyuth Tiyapairat, former Parliament president and former deputy leader of the People Power Party. The Election Cases Division of the court ruled that Yongyuth had violated the election law as charged by the EC. The Supreme Court banned Yongyuth from politics for five years as recommended by the EC. The Nation 9th July 2008

READ THE VERDICTl Yongyuth disqualified after videos prove electoral fraud  

July 9th 2008 Bangkok Post MONRUTHAI NORAKONG The Supreme Court's election division yesterday found former deputy leader of the People Power party (PPP) Yongyuth Tiyapairat guilty of violating election law by offering money to a group of kamnen in return for helping his sister win in the general election last year. The court ordered Mr Yongyuth's political rights be revoked and banned him from politics for five years. The court ordered a by-election in Chiang Rai's constituency 3 to find a replacement for La-ong Tiyapairat, Mr Yongyuth's sister. The court said there was nothing wrong with the two VCDs used as evidence to back up the electoral fraud allegations against Mr Yongyuth. Mr Yongyuth and Ms La-ong did not say that the group of people in the recordings were not the kamnen from Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district. Mr Yongyuth and Ms La-ong had contested that one VCD was made on Oct 25 last year prior to the kamnans' journey to Bangkok and the other on Oct 28 after the meeting in Bangkok between the kamnans and Mr Yongyuth. One VCD showed the kamnans at Chiang Rai airport, while the other showed them walking out of Suvarnabhumi airport to wait for a minivan. The court found that the two VCDs showed the same group of kamnans travelling from Chiang Rai to Bangkok on the same occasion.

The court believed the footage in the VCDs featured the trip by the kamnans from Chiang Rai to Bangkok on Oct 28. The VCDs were given as evidence by Wichit Yodsuwan, Chart Thai's candidate in Chiang Rai, who filed the vote-buying complaint against Mr Yongyuth with the Election Commission. The court said even though evidence indicated that Chaiwat Changkaokham, a kamnan in Mae Chan, was a member of the opposition Democrat party, Mr Chaiwat confirmed he was also a PPP member. Mr Chaiwat's testimony may be different from those given by the other kamnans, but there is no law prohibiting the court from hearing his testimony, the court said. Whether his testimony carried weight depends on his reasoning, the court said. There were grounds to believe that the meeting in Bangkok on Oct 28 between Mr Yongyuth and the kamnans was to enlist their support for the PPP, of which Mr Yongyuth was then deputy leader, and to help PPP candidates in Chiang Rai, including Ms La-ong. The court believed that during the meeting, Mr Yongyuth had given them money so they would canvass for votes. Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday declared victory following the court rulings on the Preah Vihear temple joint communique and the electoral fraud case against Mr Yongyuth. PAD supporters rallying at the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnoen avenue called on Mr Yongyuth, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and the cabinet to take responsibility for causing damage to the country.

(BangkokPost.com) - Former house speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat canceled a press conference scheduled for Tuesday evening, shortly after the Supreme Court red-carded him in electoral fraud case. The press conference was set for 5pm, or one hour after the court began reading the case against him. But the ruling was made public shortly after 6pm. Soon afterwards, he cancelled the press conference. Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Yongyuth gathered at the People Power party headquarter to give encouragement to Mr Yongyuth and hoped to hear the media conference. Jul 08, 2008

The separate court rulings against Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and former House speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat yesterday dealt major blows to the government, which will now face fresh efforts to remove it from office. The pressure started earlier in the day with the Constitution Court's verdict on the June 18 joint communique with Cambodia on the World Heritage listing of Preah Vihear temple, signed by Mr Noppadon and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. The court ruled that the document needed approval from parliament.

This case is a good example of an honest Kanman not accepting bribes by a politician and then receiving death threats. It is people like this who get merit as well as the Supreme Court in Thailand not being influenced by money from Politicians many of whom are in for the money they can command and play with.

Key witness in Yongyuth case dismissed as kamnan
source: The Nation July 21 2008

Kamnan Chaiwat Changkaokam, a key witness in the disqualification case against former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, has been dismissed from duty, a source said on Monday. Mae Chan District's Administration Division issued the dismissal order to Chaiwat as Kamnan of Tambon Chanchawa, Chiang Rai's Mae Chan District on the grounds that he has been absent from work since December last year without giving reasons. The Supreme Court's disqualification of Yongyuth as People Power Party (PPP) party list MP after convicting him on charges of electoral frauds has threatened the very existence of the ruling coalition party. The Constitution stipulates that political parties must be held accountable for wrongdoings committed by party executives. Yongyuth was the PPP deputy leader. Due the court ruling, the Election Commission is obliged to set up a panel to scrutinise if there are grounds to dissolve the PPP. You need not guess who had his hand in on this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Kanman faced death threats from persona unknown but he still testified to tell the Truth. Kamnan Chaiwat Changkaokam, a key witness one must take his hat off to this very brave man

Court disqualifies Chaiya from ministerial post

(BangkokPost.com 9th July 2008) - Constitution Court disqualified Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab from ministerial post after he failed to properly report his wife's shareholding in a company before the 30-day assets deadline. The court ruled that his post ended 30 days after he was appointed as public health minister. Mr Chaiya took office on February 6. His wife Churai has 25,000 shares, worth 2.5 million baht, in the company, which is half of the total share issue. This is in excess of the 5% legal limit. Article 269 of the constitution stipulates that a minister, his or her spouse, and children under legal age who intend to hold stock should inform the NCCC within 30 days of the minister's appointment to the cabinet. Jul 09, 2008

 

Court issues arrest warrant for Vatana 

(BangkokPost.com) 9th July 2008 - The Supreme Court Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for veteran politician Vatana Asavahame for failing to appear at the court to listen to the verdict involving the fraud-ridden Klong Dan wastewater treatment plan.The court said Mr Vatana's lawyer Paiboon Phonoi told the court that he did not receive any contact from Mr Vatana, who was scheduled to show up at 2pm.The court postponed the handing down of the verdict to August 18 at 2pm. In 2002, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) lodged a complaint with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) accusing Mr Vatana of conspiring with land and pollution control officials to issue fake land deeds for 1,900 rai of land in Samut Prakan's Bang Bo district.The alleged offence was committed in 1992 and 1993, when Mr Vatana was deputy interior minister. The land was sold to the PCD, the project developer, at an allegedly inflated price.The NCCC's investigation panel forwarded the cases to the Office of the Attorney-General, which prosecuted the case in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. If convicted Mr Vatana, who is now chief advisory chairman of the Puea Pandin party, will face one to 10 years in jail and/or a 2,000-25,000 baht fine. Jul 09, 2008

OAG files new Thaksin case at Supreme Court

(BangkokPost.com) - the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) decided Friday to press charge against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly ordering the issuance of a cabinet resolution in 2003 to convert mobile phone's operators' concession fees into an excise tax that caused about 40 billion baht damage to two state enterprises, TOT and CAT Telecom. Mr Thaksin is accused of abusing his power in order to benefit Shin, which was owned by his family. The case was forwarded to the OAG by Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC). "Attorneys have considered the case and have not found any flaws in it," said attorney Seksarn Bangsomboon. So the OAG decided to forward the case to the Supreme Court for consideration.Jul 11, 2008 Bangkok Post. Veteran politician Vatana Asavahame, wanted for jumping bail in a corruption case, was found hiding in his casino in Cambodia's Poi Pet border town, police said yesterday. Deputy national police chief Jongrak Juthanont quoted a report from Sa Kaeo police chief Pol Col Itthipol Piriyaphinyo as saying that a cousin of Mr Vatana had crossed the border from the province to see him at the Poi Pet Resort hotel, one of the two casinos in which he holds major stakes in Cambodia. The other is the Grand Diamond hotel.

Vatana fled to Cambodia, police say

Veteran politician Vatana Asavahame, wanted for jumping bail in a corruption case, was found hiding in his casino in Cambodia's Poi Pet border town, police said yesterday. Deputy national police chief Jongrak Juthanont quoted a report from Sa Kaeo police chief Pol Col Itthipol Piriyaphinyo as saying that a cousin of Mr Vatana had crossed the border from the province to see him at the Poi Pet Resort hotel, one of the two casinos in which he holds major stakes in Cambodia. The other is the Grand Diamond hotel.
Although the former interior minister's whereabouts are now known, police could not arrest Mr Vatana outside Thai territory, said Pol Gen Jongrak adding the court also has not ruled on the case yet. The court on Wednesday seized Mr Vatana's 2.2-million-baht bail and issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to turn up to hear the verdict in the Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant corruption case. The reading of the verdict is re-scheduled for Aug 18. Pol Gen Jongrak said Mr Vatana could have travelled to Cambodia by car via Sa Kaeo or taken a boat to Cambodia's Koh Kong province from his home province Samut Prakan. Pol Gen Jongrak also said it was hard for a well-known figure to be hiding in the country, citing the case of former public health minister Rakkiat Sukthana, who eluded police for almost a year after he was given a 15-year jail term in the medicine supply scandal case.

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Earlier report:
Veteran politician Vatana Asavahame, wanted for jumping bail in the Klong Dan corruption case, was found hiding in his casino in Poipet, Cambodia, police said on Friday. Police say they cannot arrest him in a neighbouring country. Deputy national police chief Jongrak Juthanont said that a cousing of Mr Vatana had crossed the border from Sa Kaeo province in Thailand, and found the fugitive at his Poi Pet Resort, one of two casinos in which Mr Vatana holds major stakes. The other is the Grand Diamond. Bangkok Post Jul 12, 2008

Vatana flees by boat from Samut Prakan: Jongrak
Deputy Police Commissioner-General Jongrak Juthanon said Vatana Asavahame, chief advisor of the Puea Pandin Party, fled by boat from Samut Prakan to Koh Kong. He said Vatana was then transported by a car to Grand Diamond Hotel in Cambodia. Jongrak said Thailand did not have repatriation treaty with Cambodia so he was not certain whether police would be able to arrest Vatana and deliver him to the Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders by August 18. The Nation

Samak denies irregularities in BMA flood-easing tunnel project

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Sunday denied that there were irregularities in a flood-easing tunnel project commenced when he was governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. He was reacting to reports that an executive of a Japanese construction firm had admitted to Japanese prosecutor that he had paid a bribe to Thai officials in return for favours connected to the tunnel project. Samak said he did not explain the issue during the week because he did not trust the Thai media so he waited to give the explanation during his live talk programme. He said the project had been ruled by the Administrative Court as being transparent after a Thai construction firm sued the BMA and Japanese firm as violating the law against collusion to win government's projects. Samak said the BMA also managed to negotiate for reduction of the construction cost so there were no bribery in the project. The Nation 15th July 2008

Samak, Apirak to be summoned by House panel on bribery scandal

The House committee on counter corruption will summon Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin to testify over a Bt125million bribery scandal. The scandal surrounds a Bt2billion tunnel-construction project, which was awarded by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in 2003 at the time Samak was still the city governor. "On behalf of the House committee, I will also fly to Japan before the end of this month to find out the truth," Democrat MP Chanchai Issarasenarak said in his capacity as the committee's vice chairman.  The Nation  16th July 2008