NACC gets 'useful information'
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Anti-graft agency undertakes search of Suphoth's residence
A team from the national anti-graft agency yesterday searched the vast residence of suspended Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom in connection with an investigation into possible irregularity.
Officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) arrived at Suphoth’s mansion in Bangkok’s Wang Thonglang district at around 6.30am when they immediately began collecting pieces of evidence, said NACC assistant secretary Worawit Boonsuk.
He said the agency had obtained a search warrant from court, adding that local police were also involved in the search.
No media workers were allowed inside the compound during the search, which went on for several hours.
Suphoth’s home has two detached buildings within an area of about seven rai (2.76 acres). About 10 luxury cars were parked inside the compound.
Worawit yesterday said “some useful information” was found during the search of the two buildings but he declined to discuss the matter in detail. He also said the NACC would summon Suphoth for further questioning soon.
The NACC yesterday sought to confiscate Bt18 million in cash allegedly robbed from Suphoth’s home on the night of November 12, according to NACC member Preecha Lertkamolmas.
The anti-graft agency had earlier confiscated Bt15.9 million retrieved by police from the alleged robbers. Suphoth had reportedly told police that Bt5 million had been robbed in the heist. Preecha said yesterday that Suphoth would be summoned to explain about the source of his money.
Meanwhile, Tongthong Chandrangsu, who heads the Transport Ministry’s fact-finding committee into Suphoth’s case, said yesterday that his panel had obtained no special recommendation from Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat. He said the fact-finding team would summon Suphoth to defend himself against corruption allegations.
In a related development, the Senate committee on transport yesterday held an inquiry into Suphoth’s case.
The panel’s chairman, Senator Kecha Saksomboon, said senior police officers told the committee that all except three of the alleged robbers involved in the heist at Suphoth’s home have been arrested. Police would question Suphoth again next week about the robbery.
Kecha said his panel would also summon representatives from the NACC and the Anti-Money Laundering Office, as well as Suphoth, as part of its inquiry into the alleged corruption.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Winai Thongsong said yesterday that police had an appointment with Suphoth on December 7, when the Transport Ministry’s suspended top bureaucrat was expected to explain about his money involved in the heist.
Winai said that police have confiscated Bt18 million from the alleged robbers and that the money was being kept at the Wang Thong Police Station. He added that the NACC would examine the confiscated cash with a written request.
The Metropolitan Police chief also dismissed as groundless a rumour that the alleged mastermind Virasak “Ko” Chualee, believed to be in hiding in Laos, had been arrested by Laotian police. He said Thai police were tracking down the fugitive believed to be in hiding near the Thai-Lao border.
