Four ‘lenders’ to be grilled over Prawit’s watches

BANGKOK: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will question four people linked to the scandal over luxury watches worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is to interview four ‘people of interest’ in the corruption investigation surrounding at least 25 luxury watches and jewellery worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, seen here with the prime minister at a merit-making ceremony during dismantlement of the Royal Crematorium, last week. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday (Jan 18) that the NACC has set the date for the questioning, which will be held at venues agreed upon by the individuals.

According to NACC procedures, the questioning can either be held at the NACC office or at other locations, Gen Watcharapol said. But he did not give further details.

He said he had not yet seen Gen Prawit’s two letters explaining the luxury watches.

Gen Watcharapol, a former close aide to Gen Prawit, added the NACC’s Bureau of Asset Inspection in the Political Sector is investigating the matter before submitting the findings to the NACC main panel for consideration.

Asked whether Gen Prawit might have breached the rule that bars holders of political positions from receiving gifts worth more than B3,000, Gen Watcharapol said NACC investigators “are looking into the matter”.

Gen Prawit has taken flak for owning a large collection of luxury watches and not declaring them among his assets, sparking concern about how he was able to afford them on his military salary.

He told reporters at Government House on Tuesday (Jan 16) that he borrowed all of the timepieces from friends and wore them infrequently.

The watches have since been returned to their owners, he claimed, saying that he was ready to resign if the NACC concludes he has committed any wrongdoing.

The public heavily criticised him for the excuse, saying it was ridiculous.

But Supreme Commander Thanchaiyan Srisuwan said yesterday that the armed forces still trust Gen Prawit and believe he will get through this problem.

Gen Prawit has been spotted wearing at least 25 watches worth about B39.5 million, according to CSI LA, a Facebook page that has been encouraging online sleuths to submit photos detailing the expensive trinkets sported by the regime’s “big brother”.

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well it's because you brought it up, so it needs to be addressed. If something is permitted by law, nothing else matters, whether or not one has experience in politics or not. Trump is a good example. Army personnel have expertise in a wide variety of disciplines which can be transferred to anything.

someone wrote: " Read the Act, it is permitted' That was not the point. Is a different matter. Do not always derail to other subjects Point is a 70 year old man, never been in politics, should not start a career there, it doesn't work And yes, of course this counts for Mr Trump too. And I not understand why in Asian countries older men keep so much hanging to power Time for y...

It's called "What aboutism.." and it's tool # 2 for the weak debater after tool # 1- ad hominem. Yes, Trump is atrocious and got elected with about 60% of the electorate participating. Future elections will be more in line with the majority's wishes.

Because it is asserted that "...stepping from the safe barracks into the political thai mine fields need other skills. You have to grow up in that, not enter it at pension age." Trump had neither of these qualifications. Also, read the Act...it is permitted.

Trump was elected democratically. USA army never intervene in elections. Never army coups. Impeachments happen democratically. And the democratic tools are working in USA, with freedom of speech and freedom of journalistic investigations., etc. I don't understand why a commentator derail to Trump, as we are living in Thailand, and comment here on thai matters.

General Pom Prawit was the architect of the coup in 2014. That was good 'barrack work'. But in a country with so many different departments, different laws, etc, stepping from the safe barracks into the political thai mine fields need other skills. You have to grow up in that, not enter it at pension age.

Comment of: What about watches stolen, warranty card lost, visitors nonsense, and not opportune, fire arms in US not registered. iIt is all derailing crap of the facts the whole thai nation now like to be clarified about deputy Prime Minister's ..many more than 25 watches as we red in Bangkok Post today. Suggest some commentator reads comments Bangkok Post as well.

Clearly, the same expert on everything, keeps making comments that are totally incorrect. I bought a moderately priced Tissot 14 years ago. Whenever I need repairs or service, Tissot Bangkok knows who I am and where and when I bought the watch. It has to be registered for the warranty.

What happens if watches are stolen? or warranty cards are lost? or visitor brings in a watch? or bought online? Any new owner is not registered because there is no central register. In Prawit's case, how is one going to pinpoint a watch to obtain particulars? If I was an owner lending to him and was approached by anyone, I would tell them [no]

Hahaha...absolute rubbish. A conservative estimate of expensive watches would amount to some 100 million world wide and probably half again are fakes. Good luck with having a central register. Hell, the US doesn't even register firearms.

Worldwide, in high class watch shops (Also in BKK, not in thai villages) multi million Baht watches during sales are registered by serial number. It has to do with proving ownership, marketing resales. Such matters. This has nothing to do with foreign visitors, or Customs affairs. It is a worldwide normal sales registration affair. And, of course, tackling the problem of thai fake watches.

If you purchase a new legitimate swiss made luxury watch of any significant value with any reputable dealer you will most certainly be registered as the owner of that watch in their worldwide customer data system for warranty purposes, if the watch was taken to the dealer of the manufacturer they would have the info of the original purchaser of the watch, not any after market sales.

Clearly some people watch too many movies. Here's a news flash, “There ain't no registration system for watches. Ain't nobody registering any watches." If you have 30 million visitors to Thailand, 1 million of whom wear expensive watches, how on earth are you going register these? Customs also are only in interested in the CIF value, for duty purposes if importing.

No grilling needed. NACC can go to a luxury watch shop In Bangkok, show the watches serial numbers and get in a few minutes all info they need: ---How old the watches are. ---Who were and are the owners. ( national and international) All info is stored in a data bank. How longer this is dragging on, the more suspicious it becomes.

Four ‘lenders’ to be grilled over Prawit’s watches

Four ‘lenders’ to be grilled over Prawit’s watches

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