Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has filed a complaint with police, claiming a group of people have been using his name to extort favours and money from others, causing almost 100 million baht in damages.
Sukhum Wongprasit, Gen Chavalit’s secretary, and Somporn Musika, his lawyer, filed the complaint at the Bang Sue police station in Bangkok on Saturday. Thay said that people claiming at different times to be an adviser, aide or common-law wife to the former premier had been using his name and his Yongchaiyudh Foundation for Peace and Development to seek benefits from other people.
Mr Somporn said a group of around 10 people had invoked the name of Gen Chavalit and his wife Khunying Pankrua Yongchaiyudh, as well as his foundation, which has 142 branches nationwide, to persuade other people to grant them favours or money.
“Gen Chavalit warned them several times but they continued to exploit his name, causing damage to his reputation. The latest case happened this month,” Mr Somporn said.
They would claim they are secretaries or close aides and then ask for a favour when contacting government offices, he said.
The gang worked systematically both locally and abroad and appeared to be acting as if they were trying to discredit Gen Chavalit, 86, who was prime minister from 1996-97.
Mr Sukhum urged the public not to fall for their ploy. “Please don’t believe anyone who tries to show you photos of him or her posing with Gen Chavalit at social functions and then asks for favours," he said.
"If the general assigns anyone to act on his behalf, he'll have a written letter explicitly saying so."
He advised anyone who believed they have been victimised to contact Gen Chavalit's team at 095-993-5465.
Now that a complaint has been formally filed with the police, perpetrators of any future attempts would face charges of libel or fraud, depending on the case, said Mr Sukhum.
