Millionaire military leader hides assets of third wife

[buksida]

Sonthi will not report assets of third wife

Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said he did not report assets of his third wife to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) because they are not legally married.

Gen Sonthi, who became deputy prime minister on Oct 5 shortly after retirement as army chief, was required by law to report his assets and those of his family. He reported the assets of himself, two wives and a child. They had combined assets of 95 million baht.

Gen Sonthi told reporters he had no intention of hiding his marriage to third wife Mrs Wanna, saying he had already explained the matter to the public.

He explained that he decided to report assets of his first two wives because he named his first wife Mrs Sukanya as his wife while his personal income tax form had the name of his second wife Mrs Piyada.

Source: Bangkok Post

Thought:

[STEVE G]

I sympathize with the man; if he has three Thai wives, 95 million baht might not be enough to go around!

[sargeant]

Naah i just wonder with 2 wives i suppose he has 2 housegirls and 2 chaufers (think about it ) it doesnt surprise me one iota.
Is this the same guy who said he led the coup to stop corruption and in the name of democracy, who now wont rule out a coup again if the PPP party goes and has the audacity to get more votes and win the election.
A true democrat.

[Nereus]

Naah i just wonder with 2 wives i suppose he has 2 housegirls and 2 chaufers (think about it ) it doesnt surprise me one iota.
Is this the same guy who said he led the coup to stop corruption and in the name of democracy, who now wont rule out a coup again if the PPP party goes and has the audacity to get more votes and win the election.
A true democrat.

Think that you spelt the last word wrong there Sarg. It does start with a "d", take your pick!

[nightstalker]

Not bad pay for a retired army chief

were do you apply???

[Wanderlust]

Don't forget assets is everything owned by him, not just his bank balance; for all we know he comes from a rich family and has inherited wealth rather than earning it in the army. If he has some land somewhere like Bangkok or Phuket, or even Hua Hin, it could account for a sizeable chunk of that wealth.

[Wanderlust]

Naah i just wonder with 2 wives i suppose he has 2 housegirls and 2 chaufers (think about it ) it doesnt surprise me one iota.
Is this the same guy who said he led the coup to stop corruption and in the name of democracy, who now wont rule out a coup again if the PPP party goes and has the audacity to get more votes and win the election.
A true democrat.

sarge,
I have never quite understood why all your posts on Thai politics are so in favour of the Thaksin and post- Thaksin party, or maybe it is so anti the Democrats.. They are all as bad as each other in general, but some of the things Thaksin did to both get power and remain there so he could add even more millions to his bank balance went beyond anything seen before. To think that his cronies won't act in the same arrogant way would be foolish in my eyes, and yet you seem to think that not only will they win the election, but also that they would be better than the opposition. I know you converse with the 'tin shack' people, who probably are pro-Thaksin/PPP but to be brutally honest, despite what the politicians may say, they are generally last in line for any improvements to their lives. I don't think any party will be 'good' for Thailand, so it is a question of the Thai people choosing the least worst, as it is in most elections worldwide. Some good things will get done but in general it will be each politician trying to ensure a comfortable retirement for themselves.

[sargeant]

I agree WL but you wont mind me asking why it is such a lopsided discussion by farangs I am a lone voice. I have heard every last detail from falangs as to how bad mr t was (and agree with a lot of it) for farangs but sorry to say they are voted in for the Thai peoples benefit not foreigners.Like they are in england /poland /pakistan/india call it what you want
As you say its up to the Thais and i agree wholeheartedly and if all sides are so bad why such a problem when i point out exactely that.I call that fair and balanced.
As 60plus% of thailand even now want TRT PPP or mrt i am niave enough to believe it should happen and stupid enough to believe democracy should prevail.What say you.especially if mr t comes back probably not.
I am going on what i think is going to happen but will we hear anything about how fair this election is after the opposition win i doubt it unless they crackdown on visas or property
I will reiterate again i have no love for mr t but i do believe in democracy and freedom of speech and wore a uniform for that belief.
I also believe in calling a shovel a shovel and do it equally with no fear or favour i dont need to do that for mr t everybody else is doing it in spades
As for corruption all i will say is Benizer Bhuttu and sharif and musharrif.

[STEVE G]

I see that at least the new army Chief Anupong Paochinda is promising not to have another coup whoever gets into power following the Dec 23rd election. Mind you, he has connections to Thaksin as well.
I'll be supporting PPP as well, mainly because I'll be in Issan during the election and I don't want to get burnt on a stake!

[buksida]

I agree WL but you wont mind me asking why it is such a lopsided discussion by farangs I am a lone voice. I have heard every last detail from falangs as to how bad mr t was (and agree with a lot of it) for farangs but sorry to say they are voted in for the Thai peoples benefit not foreigners.Like they are in england /poland /pakistan/india call it what you want

sarge, what about asking any Thai that is in anyway connected with a farang whether in a relationship, employment, business partnership or simply friends. There are lot of them and I'm sure they wont be voting for a government that wants to remove the said farangs or make it harder for them to remain in the country.

Many Thais will lose out too if they make the wrong decision at voting time.

[sargeant]

Buksi i agree but I am not wishing anything i have and still am predicting a certain set of outcomes its just my reading of the situation . I bet beer yes beer that he would come back and TRT (or whatever they call themselves) from about a week after he was thrown out.
I also said it doesnt matter who wins its just what snouts will be in the trough and they are all the bluddy same.
I do speak with thais all the time and none want falangs out but i dont understand why you think any party wants the farangs out it did not happen under the old regime in fact this town alone quadrupled in farangs under them
I still believe in democray and the will of the people unfortunately my fear is I will need to be persuaded that that is what is going to happen in this election.
Bangkok post yesterday police survey found 270 to 121 seats in favour of PPP we will have to wait and see
Just a small point i see the democrats publicity pickup every day up my way havent seen a PPP wagon yet

[sargeant]

Steve good luck to you i am not supporting any of them i just read the tea leaves using my 24 years of thai experience and am predicting what i think will happen.
I will say i think PPP will win. The boss of them will bring mr t back he will be PM for about 6 months and then go back to manchester for the start of next season his face saved just a guess

[buksida]

Not wanting to be a doomsayer but if PPP get in things are going to get a lot worse for any foreigners living here. Wait till they double your retirement visa requirements and then tell me they "dont want farangs out".

Anyway, agree with your main point; its f-all to do with us and democracy should prevail.

Now

[redzonerocker]

, so it is a question of the Thai people choosing the least worst, as it is in most elections worldwide. Some good things will get done but in general it will be each politician trying to ensure a comfortable retirement for themselves.

& that unfortunately is politics in a nutshell
as for the corruption side of the argument, that goes hand in hand with politics too

until politicians are held responsible, instead of being rewarded for their failings, the world will never change.

in my opinion, the priority of any government is to look after its own citizens.
a little more help for the poorest in society is always a good start & providing the chance, through fair means, of a decent future.