Having kept quiet for months during the luxury watch controversy, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday broke his silence to insist the whole affair was designed to attack Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Gen Prawit is suspected of dodging a law by not declaring all his assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) after being spotted wearing 25 luxury watches and a diamond ring.
While the NACC is probing the allegation, the deputy prime minister, in a rare interview on the case, claimed yesterday that political opponents may be using him as part of a 'plot' against the prime minister.
His remarks come as Gen Prayut is under criticism for trying to prolong his power, with help from Gen Prawit, after the general election that is expected to take place in February next year. Few politicians or democracy advocates are keen on the idea.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Gen Prawit said yesterday. "I'm a victim used by the opposite side to hit the prime minister in the leg."
He reiterated his claim that all the watches were borrowed from a close friend whom he had known since their school days.
He was speaking of billionaire Pattawat Suksingwong who died early last year. According to Gen Prawit, the late businessman was an avid collector of watches, owning more than 200, some of which he lent to his friend.
"Pattawat was very rich. He had given me his watches for more than 20 years. When I got bored with one, I returned it to him and he gave me a new one," Gen Prawit said.
Gen Prawit was first seen in public wearing a Richard Mille watch, worth millions of baht, and a diamond ring when he raised his hand to shield his face from the sun during a cabinet photo session last December.
"I'm not stupid," Gen Prawit said. "I've worked as a minister for many terms. Why wouldn't I know about asset declarations?" he asked. He did, however, admit that he should have clarified things sooner.
