PUBLISHED: 19 Sep 2024 at 08: 02
According to the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC), the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3 has mandated the confiscation of assets worth$ 5 million from a PWO official in an unusual-wealth case.
The judge’s ruling, handed down on March 28 but merely revealed on Wednesday, ordered the confiscation of funds deposited into two addresses belonging to Sarot Sutthiwong, said Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, NACC secretary-general and official.
Prior to the judge’s ruling, the NACC had carried out an investigation into allegations of strange money lodged against Mr Sarot, said Mr Niwatchai.
After finding reputable grounds to believe the allegations were true and Mr Sarot had engaged in misconduct, the NACC forwarded the situation to the Office of the Attorney-General, which passed it on to the prosecutor, along with a request to remove his property, said Mr Niwatchai.
During the NACC’s analysis, Mr Sarot failed to explain where his money came from, said Mr Niwatchai.
Mr Sarot’s success was discovered around the time he even served as the head of stores owned by TSTE Plc, from Feb 26, 2003 to March 12, 2004, said Mr Niwatchai.
According to Mr. Niwatchai, Mr. Sarot’s investigation into his alleged misconduct even revealed data that suggested he had deviated of duty in connection with his role in the government’s contentious rice-pledging system.
Legitimate authorities have ten years from the ruling time to find and acquire other assets in Mr. Sarot’s accounts if the rest of the money is insufficient to meet the court’s confiscation order.