NACC begins probe into Suphoth case
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The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday launched a graft investigation into Transport Ministry permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom's alleged amassing of wealth, and impounded Bt15 million in cash pending the outcome of the probe.
“The probe has stemmed from an unusually large amount of cash stolen from Suphoth’s home,” NACC secretary-general Apinan Isarangura na Ayutthaya said.
The investigation panel will be jointly led by two NACC members, Jaided Pornchaiya and Preecha Lertkamolmart, he said.
Police recovery of more than Bt15 million in stolen cash led to doubts on how Suphoth came to be in possession of the money, he said.
Suphoth did not report any changes in his net worth of Bt15 million since assuming office in 2010, Apinan said.
The probe panel will focus on answering three questions: whether Suphoth filed a false assets statement; whether he amassed ill-gotten gains; and whether he was involved in any irregularities.
The panel has the mandate to check into Suphoth’s assets without having to seek cooperation from the Anti-Money-Laundering Office.
Suphoth is expected to be summoned to give a statement on the whole incident. The police report on the break-in into Suphoth’s home on November 12 will be factored into the graft probe.
Under the anti-graft law, the NACC has the mandate to grant immunity to suspects who agree to become a prosecution witness in a corruption trial.
Weerasak Chualee, a key suspect at the centre of the burglary at Suphoth’s Bangkok home, who remains at large, is critical to the police investigation into who ordered the heist and allegedly received Bt200 million of stolen cash, a senior policeman said yesterday.
Weerasak has reportedly fled to Laos and is staying with a local businessman with whom he runs an illegal logging business, said Pol Maj-General Ronnasill Phoosara, the chief detective attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, who heads the investigation into the high-profile case.
Three other suspects on the run are likely still to be in Thailand, he added.
The officer said he was confident that police would soon arrest Weerasak and three other fugitive suspects. Seven suspects are already in police or court custody.
The newly appointed Metropolitan Police Bureau chief, Pol Maj-General Winai Thongsong, said about Bt26 million was stolen from Suphoth’s house, including the Bt16 million seized from the seven suspects who are now in custody. Suphoth told the police he was robbed of about Bt5 million.
Another suspect, Chayathat Jannachai, who turned himself in to police, was taken into court custody yesterday. He denied all the charges levelled against him of armed burglary, coercion, carrying firearms without good reasons, and possession of stolen items.
