Wanted former culture minister seeks to surrender

Itthiphol Kunplome, who is allegedly in Cambodia, is accused of approving a Pattaya villas in 2008.

Wanted former culture minister seeks to surrender
Itthiphol Kunplome, a former culture minister who served as president of Pattaya in 2008, is accused of giving the go-ahead for an illegal apartments project with 57 stories. ( File image: Jinakul Apichart)

Itthiphol Kunplome, a former governor of Pattaya and culture minister who is currently facing an arrest warrant for misbehavior in connection with the 2008 approval of an contentious condo development there, has reportedly contacted the police to turn themselves in.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s( NACC ) secretary general, Niwat Kasemmongkok, announced on Friday that he had learned Mr. Itthiphol was considering abdicating.

However, I’m not sure which organization the original culture minister did report himself to. perhaps a jury? This is because the judge issued an arrest warrant for him, Mr. Niwat said.

When he was the mayor of Pattaya on September 10, 2008, Mr. Itthiphol, 50, was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 2 for illegally issuing a permit for the construction of the Waterfront Suites & amp, Residences. The project’s proprietor was Bali Hai Co.

For wrongdoing and dereliction of duty in contravention of Segment 157 of the Criminal Code, the NACC had requested court approval to detain Mr. Itthiphol and two other people, Pichet Uthaiwatthananon and Witthaya SirinvorachaI.

Only weeks before the 15-year statute of limitations on the situation expired, Mr. Itthiphol had earlier left the country after learning that an arrest warrant may be issued for him early this month. On August 30, he departed the nation for Cambodia via Suvarnabhumi aircraft. Two days prior to the issuance of the arrest warrants, the other two offenders had already left the country on September 3.

The statute of limitations never longer protects someone who is evading arrest, so government sought a legal interpretation that permitted them to request an empty permit.

Mr. Itthiphol had previously held the position of society secretary in the administration of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha. He is the son of the late Chon Buri gang Somchai Khunpluem and the younger sibling of former Pattaya governor Sonthaya Kunplome. The Move Forward Party won seven out of the 10 chairs in the state during the most recent general election, despite the family’s long-standing dominance in government.

At the base of Khao Phra Tamnak valley, close to Pattaya Bay and Bali Hai Pier, the Waterfront property was intended to include 57 decks on two ray of land.

The project’s architecture and the condition of the area it was built on faced opposition. The unfinished structure has already been completely destroyed. & nbsp,