The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has accused ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom's former secretary of being unusually rich and is seeking the seizure of more than 890 million baht worth of his family's assets.
Weerawut: Has fled overseas
Acting NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said yesterday the commission concluded at a recent meeting that Weerawut Wajanaphukka, who had served as the former commerce minister's secretary, was unusually rich after he failed to explain how assets totalling 896,554,760 baht were acquired.
The NACC's decision was based on the outcome of an NACC inquiry by a panel set up on June 2, 2015 to investigate whether Dr Weerawut was unusually rich.
The anti-graft agency has petitioned the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to seek an order from the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to allow the confiscation of the assets.
They include money in 53 bank accounts amounting nearly 568 million baht belonging to Dr Weerawut, his former wife, children, and relatives and associates, as well as about 260 million baht which was invested in six businesses.
Also included are 12 land plots in Bangkok worth 57 million baht belonging to his former wife, children and relatives, a condominium unit in Silom worth 6.2 million baht belonging to relatives, and four cars worth 6.3 million baht belonging to relatives and associates.
Dr Weerawut was among the defendants in the government-to-government (G2G) rice deals during the previous Yingluck Shinawatra government.
On Aug 25, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found Boonsong and 16 others guilty in a fake G2G rice deal case.
Boonsong was handed a 42-year jail sentence and his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, was sentenced to 36 years.
Dr Weerawut reportedly fled overseas after the Supreme Court accepted the G2G case for deliberation.
It later issued an arrest warrant for Dr Weerawut after he failed to appear for the verdict on the case on June 29, last year.
