Thailand’s Anti-Graft Commission Stalls Over Probe into Deputy PM’s Luxury Watch Investigation

BANGKOK – After four months of investigation into the controversial issue pertaining to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon’s diamond ring and Multi- Million dollar luxury wristwatches the National Anti-Corruption Commission has decided wait and look deeper into the Deputy PM’s story.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has assigned the investigative panel to conduct further probes into finding out the real owner or owners of the wristwatches.

The NACC was supposed to make it’s decision and put an end to the controversy, after the panel had wrapped up its investigative report which included four written clarifications from Gen Prawit about his diamond ring and 25 luxury wristwatches which he was reportedly seen wearing on different occasions.

NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said the anti-graft watchdog wanted its panel to question two “new” witnesses and to examine further information from sale representatives of the brand-name wristwatches in Thailand.

Also, he said that the NACC wanted the panel to ascertain who the real owner or owners of the expensive wristwatches are, as Gen Prawit claimed he borrowed them from a friend who has since died.

Mr. Worawit disclosed that the panel confirmed that the diamond ring was inherited by the deputy prime minister from his mother.  As for the 25 wristwatches which were claimed by Gen Prawit to be borrowed from a friend who was already dead, he said there were actually only 22 of them.

He told Thai PBS that the investigative panel had confirmed that the wristwatches worn by Gen Prawit did exist, but details about the wristwatches and who actually owned them is still lacking.

Mr Worawit said the investigative panel had sent inquiries to 13 sale representatives of the brand-name wristwatches, but received responses from only three of them, hence the need to get information from the rest of the companies.

Asked whether Gen Prawit will be invited to meet with the investigative panel, Mr Worawit said the panel would try to get more information first.

Source: Thai PBS