PM's daughter in trouble over assets
By The Nation
Published on September 24, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat yesterday brushed aside allegations that his daughter had violated the anti-graft law with an improper declaration of assets.
According to senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, the PM's daughter, Chiang Mai MP Chinnicha Wongsawat, had failed to report the more than Bt100 million she had borrowed before taking up her post.
Ruangkrai, a former auditor, said Chinnicha had earlier told the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) that she had taken a loan from Bhanapot Damapong, the half-brother of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.
Somchai, who is the brother-in-law of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said he had no knowledge of the issue.
In a mandatory asset/liability declaration for MPs, Chinnicha reported to the National Counter-Corruption Commission that her total assets stood at more than Bt300 million and her liabilities were over Bt70 million.
However, earlier Chinnicha had told the AEC that she had borrowed more than Bt100 million from Bhanapot, but failed to submit documents substantiating this loan.
On January 18 this year, Chinnicha insisted with the AEC that the money was legal because it was a loan from her relative. The AEC had earlier placed a freeze on her assets.
"We're examining how a young lady of only 27 could have amassed more than Bt300 million, plus received a loan of over Bt100 million from a relative.
"All this happened while Somchai spent his years as a bureaucrat and only retired from the civil service recently," said Ruangkrai.
Ruangkrai was the man behind the disqualification of former PM Samak Sundaravej for having accepted payment over a TV show while in office.
In July, Pojaman and Bhanapot were also found guilty of tax evasion following a case Ruangkrai had initiated.
By The Nation
Published on September 24, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat yesterday brushed aside allegations that his daughter had violated the anti-graft law with an improper declaration of assets.
According to senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, the PM's daughter, Chiang Mai MP Chinnicha Wongsawat, had failed to report the more than Bt100 million she had borrowed before taking up her post.
Ruangkrai, a former auditor, said Chinnicha had earlier told the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) that she had taken a loan from Bhanapot Damapong, the half-brother of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra.
Somchai, who is the brother-in-law of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said he had no knowledge of the issue.
In a mandatory asset/liability declaration for MPs, Chinnicha reported to the National Counter-Corruption Commission that her total assets stood at more than Bt300 million and her liabilities were over Bt70 million.
However, earlier Chinnicha had told the AEC that she had borrowed more than Bt100 million from Bhanapot, but failed to submit documents substantiating this loan.
On January 18 this year, Chinnicha insisted with the AEC that the money was legal because it was a loan from her relative. The AEC had earlier placed a freeze on her assets.
"We're examining how a young lady of only 27 could have amassed more than Bt300 million, plus received a loan of over Bt100 million from a relative.
"All this happened while Somchai spent his years as a bureaucrat and only retired from the civil service recently," said Ruangkrai.
Ruangkrai was the man behind the disqualification of former PM Samak Sundaravej for having accepted payment over a TV show while in office.
In July, Pojaman and Bhanapot were also found guilty of tax evasion following a case Ruangkrai had initiated.
