Landlords hold sway in Yingluck's Cabinet

It was a surprise to many that Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee was listed as the wealthiest minister in Yingluck Shinawatra’s Cabinet. But a closer look at his assets shows that most are pieces of land.
Of his Bt615 million in assets, land plots account for Bt561 million. Combined with his wife’s Bt246 million in property, the couple owns land worth a total of Bt807 million.
Posted on the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s website is a 67-page document detailing Plodprasob’s land ownership. However, the document cannot currently be accessed.

The following ministers – individually or with their spouses – own land worth over Bt100 million:

1. Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa owns land worth Bt8 million. His wife’s landholdings total Bt368 million.
2. Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha has Bt70 million in land; his wife has Bt72 million.
3. Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan had Bt84 million in land; his wife has Bt40 million.
4. Deputy Interior Minister Choochart Harnsawas reports owning Bt147.9 million worth of land comprising 2,025 rai. However, details have not been made available on the NACC website.
5. Justice Minister Pol General Pracha Promnok has Bt28 million in land, while his wife has Bt86 million. Some land belonging to their late son, Pol Col Chattham, was transferred (as inheritance) to them according to the law.
6. Deputy Education Minister Surapong Ueng-ampornvilai has Bt154 million in land.
7. Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul has Bt19 million worth of land and his wife Bt203.9 million.

Other ministers and their spouses who own land worth almost Bt100 million:

1. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung has Bt57 million in land, his wife Bt22 million.
2. Deputy Finance Minister Viroon Tejapaibul has Bt5 million worth of land and his wife Bt84 million.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has Bt65 million worth of land in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok and Samut Prakan.
The other ministers all own land holdings worth at least Bt10 million.
Meanwhile, members of the previous Cabinet under Abhisit Vejjajiva declared their assets one month after leaving their posts.
Former deputy finance minister Pradit Pataraprasit has the most land – 38 plots worth Bt570 million in total.

Ministers in the Abhisit administration who have over Bt100 million worth of land include:

1. Former tourism and sports minister Chumpol Silapa-archa. (He is also a member of the Yingluck Cabinet; see above.)
2. Former energy minister Wannarat Charnnukul. (Also a member of the Yingluck Cabinet; see above.)
3. Former justice minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has Bt4 million worth of land. His wife has Bt208 million and their minor children have land worth Bt36 million.
4. Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij has Bt122 million and his wife has Bt27 million in land.
5. Former deputy public health minister Pansiri Kulanartsiri, sister of veteran politician Somsak Thepsuthin, has Bt2 million worth of land. Her husband has Bt122 million.
6. Former labour minister Phaithoon Kaeothong has Bt7 million in land, while his wife has Bt96 million.

Four Abhisit Cabinet members reported owning land worth Bt50 million to Bt100 million:

Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister
After leaving the post this year, Suthep declared 62 plots worth Bt96 million. All of the 877 rai are in his hometown of Surat Thani, with all lots in Phunphin district except for one in Koh Samui district.
Suthep obtained 57 of the 62 lots from 2009-11, when he was deputy premier. He gained seven lots with deeds this year and six of them are noted as “former Nor Sor 3 land”.
Suthep said he acquired the other five lots in 1998, 1999 and 2004.
When he took office in 2008, Suthep declared having 50 lots. All of them were rated as Nor Sor 3, Nor Sor 3 Ko or Nor Sor 4 Jor land, a status lower than land with a title deed. No deeds have been issued for them.

Boonjong Wongtrairat, deputy interior minister
He declared land worth Bt10 million, while his wife had Bt70 million worth of land.

Trairong Suwankiri, deputy prime minister
He declared land worth Bt6 million, while his wife had Bt67.9 million worth of land.

Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, science minister
One year after leaving the post, she declared having Bt1 million of land, while her husband had Bt67 million worth of land.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the premier at the time, had two parcels of land worth Bt19.5 million. He obtained one, of 15 rai, in Pathum Thani in 1982 that is now worth Bt19.2 million. The other parcel is in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district worth Bt381,000. It only has a land-use approval document.