Thailand Politics

Future Forward Claims Prayut and Junta Helped in 1MDB Cover-Up

Thailand’s disbanded opposition Future Forward Party has claimed the government allegedly colluded in the coverup in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal. A scandal for which former Malaysian leader Najib Razak is now standing trial.

The accusation comes a day ahead of a no-confidence debate in the Thai parliament against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and five other Cabinet members.

The Future Forward Party, which won the third highest number of seats in last March’s general election, was dissolved Friday. Thailand’s Constitutional Court said the FFP violated election laws by accepting a large loan from its leader.

Eleven party executives were kicked out of parliament immediately and banned from political office for 10 years. However the party’s remaining 65 lawmakers can keep their seats if they join party within 60 days.

Prayut’s Government calls accusations groundless

1MDB Scandal

FFP spokeswoman Pannika Wanich said at a news conference that because she was one of the lawmakers who lost their seats, she was presenting the case the party had prepared about the 1MDB scandal outside of parliament.

Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said the government was not involved in the case. “What Pannika said is groundless and vaguely connected,” she said.

The alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal is fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho. He is believed to be hiding out in China.

U.S. investigators say at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by Prime Minister Najib’s associates. The money was laundered through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries. The money was used to finance Hollywood films and buy hotels; buy a luxury yacht; art works, jewelry and other extravagances. More than $700 million from the fund allegedly landed in Najib’s bank account.

Pannika’s 1MDB scandal assertions are generally known and break no new ground. However, all have previously been treated as sideshows to the case. This is the first major effort to spotlight any involvement by Thailand.

Swiss national detained in Thailand

1mdb scandal thailand

The first involved Thailand’s arrest of Xavier Justo, a Swiss national who worked with a company implicated in the scandal. He then leaked information essential to its exposure. Pannika alleged that Thai authorities had denied the U.S. FBI, which was investigating the case, access to the jailed Justo. However they allowed parties with a vested interest in covering it up to see him.

She also said that Jho Low had freely visited Thailand five times in 2016-2018 even though an Interpol “Red Notice” requested by Singapore seeking his arrest had been issued. China has also been widely reported to have allowed him entry during this period, when Najib was still in power. His party lost a May 2018 general election.

“The Red Notice of Jho Low, it was shocking that Thailand ignored Interpol’s Red Notice. And the only two countries who did, who do that continuously, are China and Thailand,” said Pannika. “And who are we? China is China but we are Thai. So this is unacceptable. We need a more responsible government.”

She also pointed out the links between two close associates of Jho Low and a Thai businessman.

Junta allegedly involved in 1MDB scandal

1MBD

The events she referred to all seem to have taken place before the current government under Prayuth took office last year. However, Prayuth also served as prime minister in the Junta government that held power before that. After staging a 2014 coup ousting an elected government.

The no-confidence debate in the lower house, scheduled to run three days, will be the first since the coup.

Prayuth will be the main target of the opposition. The opposition is expected to attack his leadership in facing economic troubles. Even more a serious air pollution problem and the health threat from the new coronavirus.

The other five Cabinet members facing censure are; deputy prime ministers Prawit Wongsuwan; Wissanu Krea-ngarm; Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda; Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao. The latter was appointed to the Cabinet despite being convicted in 1994 of conspiring to import heroin to Australia. He served four years in prison there but denies his jail sentence ever happened.

Source: New York Times

Thailand Politics

Thai Prime Minister’s Popularity Declines as Move Forward Party dominates

(CTN News) – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin continues to make local and international visits to try to solve problems and promote Thailand, but he has failed to impress most voters, according to a Nida poll. The poll also revealed the declining popularity of Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the rise of the Move Forward Party.

According to a poll released on Sunday, only 12.85% of people supported the prime minister, down from 17.75% in the previous survey. The daughter of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin, currently on parole, saw her popularity drop from 6% to 4.85%.

The National Institute of Development Administration conducts a quarterly survey of the public’s preferred political leaders. The last survey was released at the end of March.

According to the survey, supporters of the prime minister described Mr Srettha as a resolute decision-maker determined to address their problems. Ms Paetongtarn was complimented for her vision, leadership, knowledge, and grasp of the country’s difficulties.

This weekend, the prime minister will be in the northeast region listening to citizens’ concerns. The journey occurred only a few days after he had visited northern provinces earlier in the week.

Despite criticism, he has reduced his abroad trips, citing the need to showcase Thailand to investors and traders.

Pita Limjaroenrat, the chief advisor of the Move Forward Party, remained the top candidate for prime minister with 45.50% of the vote, up slightly from 42.75% in the previous quarter’s poll.

Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was the huge winner. The leader of the United Thai National Party saw his popularity nearly quadruple from 3.55% to 6.85%.

The sampled voters stated they appreciated Mr Pita’s political beliefs and thought he had broad knowledge. They praised Mr Pirapan’s credibility, claiming he was clean and honest.

Two other probable prime minister candidates were Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party and Anutin Chanvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai. However, they were less popular than others.

About 20% of voters still did not believe any candidate was qualified to lead the country, which is the same percentage as in the last survey.

Move Forward Party was the most popular party with 49.20%, up slightly from three months ago, while Pheu Thai fell around five percentage points to 16.85% from 22.10%.

The poll, issued on Sunday, surveyed 2,000 ineligible voters between June 14 and June 18.

Thailand Politics

Move Forward Party MP Jirat Thongsuwan Appeals Suspended Jail Sentence for Defamation

(CTN News) – Jirat Thongsuwan, a Move Forward Party MP, says he would appeal his one-year suspended jail sentence for defaming a former senior defense ministry official concerning the state’s procurement of bogus bomb detectors.

The Criminal Court also fined Mr Jirat 100,000 baht for falsely accusing ACM Tharet Punsri, a former Air Force chief-of-staff who later became the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, of being the chairman and shareholder of a company that supplied the military with the infamous GT200 bomb detectors.

The Chachoengsao MP claimed a July 20, 2022, no-confidence vote against cabinet ministers in Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. ACM Tharet was not a cabinet member.

Jirat Thongsuwan also identified ACM Tharet as a key figure in the 2006 coup headed by then-army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, which overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra.

ACM Tharet told the court that Jirat Thongsuwan’s charges were false and harmed his reputation. He denied involvement with the bomb detection company and said he was not the company’s senior chairman or shareholder.

In addition to the suspended jail term and fine, the court ordered Jirat Thongsuwan to pay $ 500,000 baht in damages to ACM Tharet and publish an apology in three newspapers for five days.

Jirat Thongsuwan later announced on his X account that he had challenged the verdict with the hashtag “An injustice is infuriating”.

The MP has also been accused of dodging required military conscription. He admitted to the accusation on May 8.

A British business promoted the GT200 as a “remote substance detector” and sold it in several countries. Between 2004 and 2009, fourteen Thai government organizations, most of which were military, were projected to spend 1.4 billion baht on the units.

Concerns about the GT200 and related gadgets arose after the National Science and Technology Development Agency discovered they lacked electronic components.

The devices were later revealed to be “divining rods”.

Thailand Politics

Thaksin Shinawatra Files 100 Million Baht Defamation Lawsuit Against Warong Dechgitvigrom

(CTN News) – Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, has launched a defamation action against Warong Dechgitvigrom, the head of the Thai Pakdee Party, accusing him of paying a bribe to be released on bail in a lese majeste case.

Thaksin’s attorney, Winyat Chartmontree, filed a lawsuit against Warong, seeking 100 million baht in damages.

Warong, a long-time Thaksin Shinawatra critic, gave a public statement and posted on social media, saying that 2 billion baht was paid to judicial officials in exchange for release on bail in the lese majeste case.

Thaksin Shinawatra Granted Release on 500,000 Baht Bond

Thaksin was granted release on a 500,000 baht bond last week and told not to leave the country without court authorization after pleading innocent to charges of defaming King Rama IX in a 2015 interview with South Korean media.

Winyat stated that, while Warong did not identify Thaksin Shinawatra by name in his speech or post, he did include a hashtag with Thaksin’s name as well as the date Thaksin must appear in court, allowing readers to connect Thaksin to the allegations.

Winyat further stated that he was investigating the fact that Warong mentioned the specific aircraft and automobiles utilized by Thaksin Shinawatra to violate the Personal Data Protection Act.

“I have requested Mr Warong to provide proof as to where he received the data. “If it turns out that it came from state officials, there will be legal consequences,” he warned.

The Criminal Court has scheduled the case’s preliminary hearing for September 30.