Thread: Srisuwan snaps at PM's puppy gifts

January 2, 2018
BANGKOK POST

Anti-corruption activist Srisuwan Janya says he will let Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha know the Year of the Dog is almost here by filing a complaint against him for giving expensive puppies as gifts to two senior cabinet members.

Mr Srisuwan, secretary-general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, said Tuesday he intends to file a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against the premier for giving inappropriate gifts.

The complaint would also name Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya for violating Section 103 of the Prevention and Suppression of Corruption Act.

Section 103 prohibits political office-holders from receiving gifts with a value of more than 3,000 baht.

During a mobile cabinet trip to Phitsanulok on Dec 25, the prime minister purchased three puppies from a group of local Bang Kaew dog breeders. One puppy was for him and the two others were for Gen Anupong and Gen Chatchai. The price of each dog was 6,000 baht.

However, the prime minister offered to pay more to give moral support to the group running the dog breeding business.

Bang Kaew is one of the country’s most famous dogs breeds which originated in the province. The dogs are well-known for their loyalty to their owner, and for being very aggressive towards strangers.

Mr Srisuwan alleged the prime minister breached the anti-graft law related to misconduct by giving an improper gift to people holding political positions. Meanwhile, the other two violated Section 103 for accepting the gifts.

“This is not a small thing. The prime minister must do the right thing otherwise other state officials will follow the wrong path. The anti-graft commission must do its job,” he said.

According to the NACC, if a political office-holder is the recipient of a gift and needs to accept it to maintain ties, he or she must inform and seek their superior’s permission. If the receiver is a top agency official or higher, they must inform and seek permission from those with the power to appoint or impeach them, or the NACC.

As of yesterday, the puppies had not been delivered.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gen...ms-puppy-gifts

Sounds like he's jumped the gun. He shoud have waited until the gifts were given, accepted, and no permission sought for accepting.

[worldsworstpun]
Country's going to the dogs.
[/worldsworstpun]

^Yep, that means most of the nations expats other halves better watch out

MONEY FOR VACCINES, NOT ‘MORAL SUPPORT’ PM SAYS IN PUPPY PLOT TWIST

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, January 3, 2018



Junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha caresses one of three dogs he purchased last December in Sukhothai.

BANGKOK — In a twist to a scandal accusing Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha of overpaying and breaching anti-corruption laws in the purchase of puppies, the junta leader said Wednesday that the surplus was meant for their vaccination and delivery – not to give the seller moral support, as he was quoted saying initially.

Prayuth referenced the additional 7,000 baht he paid for the purchase of three Bang Kaew puppies last December in Sukhothai, a move activist Srisuwan Janya said breached Article 103 of the Anti-Corruption Act, which forbids state officials from giving or receiving gifts worth more than 3,000 baht.

The junta leader paid a total of 25,000 baht for the three dogs, which originally held a market price of 6,000 baht each.

“The thing about the Bang Kaew puppies is about dogs, don’t blow it up. I haven’t given it to anyone, on that day I only asked if anyone wants one. As for the payment, the additional money will be used for vaccinations and delivery,” Prayuth said adding that he hadn’t received any puppy. “I know the law. [I] know that [one] cannot give anything worth more than 3,000 baht.”

Srisuwan, who vowed to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission today, said Prayuth could have potentially further broken the law by saying he would give two of the three puppies to fellow cabinet members.

Prayuth said both Interior Minister Gen. Anupong Paochinda and Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya wanted “to check with their dogs back home first to see if they could get along” with the Bang Kaew puppies.

Money for Vaccines, Not ?Moral Support? PM Says in Puppy Plot Twist

There is no story there, corruption is about officials receiving gifts, not buying things at market price or above.
Or they meant that Prayuth is suspected of trying to corrupt his fellow Junta members? He can order them anything and they'll do it or else a reshuffle can sort it...the dogs mean nothing. The activist should pick his fights more wisely.
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