Pressure on Supoj to declare assets intensifies

The National Anti-Corruption Commission will order permanent secretary for transport Supoj Saplom to declare the assets he had in his possession on the day his home was robbed.

Supoj: Denies he was summoned

NACC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said the financial statement is being sought by a subcommittee which is looking into allegations of ill-gained wealth and asset concealment following a major cash theft from Mr Supoj's Lat Phrao home.

The subcommittee recently searched Mr Supoj's house and found bank deposits of 28 million baht, Mr Klanarong said.

He said the agency is likely to issue an order requiring Mr Supoj to submit a fresh asset declaration list in a few days. The permanent secretary has 30 days to respond.

Mr Klanarong said Mr Supoj declared his assets to the NACC on Nov 12 this year when he was a member of the Thai Airways International board.

However, it is too early to say if there is anything unusual about the asset declaration, he said.

Mr Klanarong said the subcommittee is authorised to summon Mr Supoj to clarify the assets again if it has questions.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt Gen Winai Thongsong, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed yesterday Mr Supoj would give a statement to police today as scheduled.

He said Mr Supoj has not so far made changes to the appointment and would contact police to inform them of the meeting venue.

The commissioner also said police were doing their best to track down the suspected theft gang leader, Weerasak Chualee, or Ko.

The suspect was reportedly in hiding in Laos but some people reported spotting him in Nakhon Phanom.

Pol Lt Gen Winai said police would have to consider the NACC's findings to decide whether they will press a charge of giving a false statement against Mr Supoj.

The permanent secretary initially told the police he lost 1 million baht in the robbery, but later reported a loss of 5 million baht in cash, which he claimed was a dowry from his daughter's marriage.

However, police investigators estimated that a group of men had made off with more than 200 million baht in cash. Eight suspects were arrested and 18 million baht has been recovered.

Mr Supoj said yesterday he did not receive any summon to give a statement to police or an order by the NACC to clarify his assets.

He said he is currently on leave but declined to say when he will be back at work.

Mr Supoj took leave from Nov 23 to Dec 2 after he was transferred to an inactive post at the PM's Office after the scandal.