Suphoth ordered to list assets robbed from his house
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The national anti-graft agency yesterday ordered suspended Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom to provide a detailed account of the money and assets stolen from his home last month.
Suphoth would be given 30 days to provide a list to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as part of its investigation into whether he had falsely reported his financial status to the agency and whether he should be considered “unusually wealthy”, NACC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said.
Suphoth could provide the information verbally or in writing, or both, according to the spokesman, who added that the NACC would provide him with the appropriate form on which to list assets involved in the heist at his home.
The NACC would summon Suphoth to ask him for more details if the agency deemed it was necessary, the spokesman said.
According to Klanarong, the NACC’s recent search of Suphoth’s home in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao area turned up “electronic evidence” showing that he had at least Bt28 million in bank accounts. Examination of Bt8 million worth of banknotes confiscated by police from the alleged robbers found 89 currency straps withdrawn from nine banks, according to Klanarong. He said the NACC subcommittee investigating Suphoth’s case would contact those banks for details, adding that it would also summon any individuals it believed could assist with its inquiries, including politicians if necessary.
Suphoth last submitted an asset report to the NACC on November 12, when he was appointed a board member of national carrier Thai Airways International, according to the NACC spokesman.
In a related development, the NACC will tomorrow afternoon(Dec 8) disclose at a press conference the results of its investigation into alleged irregularities involving the Klong Dan wastewater treatment project, according to Klanarong.
He said the investigation involved questioning of 140 witnesses, more than 30 people accused of involvement in corruption, and some 17,000 pages of relevant documents.
The huge volume of material explained why the probe was completed later than expected, he said.
