PUBLISHED: 12:35 on September 7, 2023.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC) has been asked by public prosecutors to request a new arrest warrant detailing Itthiphol Kunplome’s escape date. The purpose of the demand is to stop the statute of limitations from running out in his Pattaya property permission case.
According to Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General( OAG ), Khamnueng Wongthaweesap, the OAG’s region 2 executive director, sent an urgent letter to the NACC secretary general on Wednesday asking the anti-graft organization to request a new arrest warrant for Mr. Itthiphol and two other defendants.
The earlier arrest warrants, according to Mr. Kosolwat, did not specify the day of their absence. Due to its effect on the Corruption and Misconduct Procedures Act, including this time is essential; otherwise, no one may take advantage of the statute of limitations.
Due to Mr. Itthiphol and the other two suspects’ failure to appear before people lawyers for trial as scheduled on Monday, the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases issued the earlier arrest warrants on Tuesday. The high-rise Waterfront Suites & amp, Residences project in Pattaya was granted illegal permission in September 2008 while Mr. Itthiphol was the mayor of the city, which is the case at hand. This Sunday( Sept 10 ), the case’s 15-year statute of limitations will expire.
Mr. Itthiphol, 50, is accused of misbehavior under Area 157 of the Criminal Code, which carries a one to ten-year prison term.
After being appointed to Prayut Chan-o-cha’s second government in July 2019, the former Pattaya mayor served as culture minister until recently. Sonthaya Kunplome, a former governor of Pattaya, is also his younger sibling.
On August 3, the NACC filed the situation with the OAG, and on August 30, the attorney general ordered Mr. Ittiphol’s prosecution.
At the base of Khao Phra Tamnak hill, close to Pattaya Bay and Bali Hai Pier, the Waterfront property task was constructed on two ra( 3, 200 square meters ) of property. Due to its unfinished state, the tower has been ordered to be demolished.
The Pattaya Bay is next to the unfinished Waterfront Suites & amp, Residences project. ( Bangkok Post image )