Headline: Activist calls for Preecha house probe
Ref: BANGKOK POST Issued date 28 December 2016, AEKARACH SATTABURUTH
A political activist wants the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the mansion reportedly owned by former permanent secretary for defence, Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha, who allegedly failed to declare the property to the antigraft body.
Gen Preecha is a younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Srisuwan Janya, the activist who also serves as secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, said yesterday his association will submit a petition to the NACC regarding the luxury house.
Mr Srisuwan was responding to news reports about the mansion in Phitsanulok’s Muang district.
According to several media outlets, the house belongs to Gen Preecha and he has admitted not declaring it to the NACC. Citing the constitution’s organic law on corruption prevention and suppression, Mr Srisuwan said Gen Preecha was supposed to declare the house to the NACC within 30 days after leaving office on Sept 30.
Anti-corruption advocate, Veera Somkwamkid, has posted on the internet pictures of a luxury house he described as a multimillion-baht mansion constructed on two conjoined plots of land totaling 5 rai.
According to Mr Veera, a house warming party was held three months before the owner moved in early this year and neighbours confirmed the owners were none other than Gen Preecha and his wife, Phongphan.
Responding to reports about the house, Gen Preecha was quoted in interviews as saying it was his. He said he did not declare it because it was not yet finished and didn’t have a house number.
However, he denied the land plot was as large as 5 rai as reported by the media, saying it was slightly over 1 rai and was land he purchased in 2011 which had already been included on an assets list submitted to the NACC for inspection.
The prime minister referred questions to his brother. “It’s my brother’s business. Let him explain whether [he has] abided by the law or not,” said Gen Prayut when asked about the matter.
NACC chief, Sansern Poljeak, said an investigation will begin once a formal petition is received.