Former Nok Air supremo Patee Sarasin has insisted he is not a nominee for any NokScoot stockholders, as transport authorities are set to call him in by next week to discuss the Thailand-based low-cost airline's financial status.
The 56-year-old ex-airline chief, who resigned from his post at Nok Air last September, took to Twitter to clear his name after speculation from several news outlets that he might be holding stock in Nok1 for a foreign company.
"A lot of confusion has resulted from this news, I have already left Nok Air and [therefore] have also left the decision-making process in the company's management," he tweeted on Monday at about 6pm. "I never said I was a nominee, only that I have not been managing the airline for a long time now. Do not involve me [in the issue]."
He published another tweet minutes later, reiterating his denial of the claims.
ข่าวนกแอร์ทำให้สับสนมากที่เอาเราเข้าไปเกี่ยวพันนะครับผมได้ออกมาจากนกแอร์ และในการตัดสินใจอะไรทั้งสิ้นในการบริหาร ไม่เคยได้บอกว่าเป็นnominee เพียงแต่บอกว่าไม่ได้บริหารมานานแล้ว อย่าเอาชื่อเราไปยุ่งเกี่ยวด้วยเท่านั้นเอง
— Patee Sarasin (@Patee122) September 10, 2018
สั้นๆ คือไม่ได้เป็น Nominee และก็ไม่ได้มีส่วนร่วมในการบริหารใดๆทั้งสิ้น รับทราบทั่วกันนะครับ
— Patee Sarasin (@Patee122) September 10, 2018
"I have been constantly scolded by my parents since the report," Mr Patee said Tuesday.
NokScoot is a joint venture of Nok Air and Singapore-based Scoot. The latter firm owns 49% of the airline, the Thai statutory limit for foreign ownership.
An official statement released by Nok Air's public relations department confirmed the figure.
The statement said the other 49% of the airline is owned by Nok Mangkang. The remaining 2% is owned by Pueannammitr Co.
Nok Airlines Plc holds a 50% stake in Nok Mangkang, while Mr Patee holds the rest.
On Monday, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to conduct an inspection of NokScoot regarding the nominee speculations.
CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop said the authority will hold meetings with Mr Patee by next week to discuss the matter and conduct further inspections.
He said the CAAT did not find any irregularities when inspecting NokScoot's registration documents in April. This included not finding any evidence of Mr Patee being a nominee for a foreign company, he said.
Mr Chula said acting as a nominee to hold shares in an airline registered in Thailand is illegal.
He said the Transport Ministry has the right to discontinue any airlines found to have participated in such activities.
The aviation chief added that the CAAT is monitoring the financial status of Nok Air.
A CAAT source said Tuesday that the airline incurred an 830-million-baht loss in the second quarter, widening from last year's 650-million-baht loss during the same period.
"The tourism industry slows down seasonally, and fuel and aircraft costs are rising continuously, leading to higher operating costs," the source said. "Furthermore, the Stock Exchange of Thailand has marked Nok Air with ‘C-Caution', indicating the stock has a deteriorating financial status."
