Politicians from big parties willing to prove their innocence over asset gains
Politicians from the two big parties – the Democrats and Pheu Thai – said on Friday they were willing to cooperate and prove their innocence in regard to increased assets after years of being out of public office, The Nation was told.
Satit Wongnongtoey, a former Prime Minister’s Office Minister in Abhisit Vejjajiva’s administration, said the Revenue Department had contacted him, but had yet to give an appointment date, and said he may need to present himself, as well as some unspecified documents.
Satit is among politicians named in recent news reports in regard to having assets that increased in value that should be subject to tax. At least 60 politicians and high-ranking officials are on the list.
Satit reportedly had assets worth over Bt19-million more when he left office than when he took the Cabinet position.
Satit insisted he had not been involved in any “grey” business. He was just a politician with a background as the owner of a private kindergarten school, he said.
Pheu Thai politician Pongthep Thepkanchana, a former deputy prime minister and education minister, said he had just returned from abroad and could not say at this point whether the Office of Auditor General or Revenue Department had tried to contact him yet.
Like Satit, Pongthep said he had reported to the Revenue Department every year and never had any problems.
Pongthep reportedly had assets worth over Bt164 million more when he left than when he took the office.