Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,555

    Former Thai Airways CEO Jailed For Using Position To Avoid Luggage Fees

    The former chairman of Thai Airways has been sentenced for two years for failing to pay for excess baggage. The case found that Wallop Bhukkanasut, who was chairman of the board at the time, used his status to take bags weighing 300kg above the airline’s limit on a flight in 2009.

    Wallop Bhukkanasut had one of the shortest tenures of any chairman of an airline board in history. He was appointed in April 2009 but resigned in December that year after details emerged of an abuse of power. Now, a decade later, Wallop is facing two years jail time for his misdemeanor.

    The former chairman was found by Thailand’s Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct guilty of breaching Section 11 of the National Anti Corruption Act. His crime involved bringing a huge amount of excess baggage back with him from a trip to Tokyo and leveraging his status to avoid paying for it.

    Mr Wallop returned from Tokyo on November 14th in 2009 with his wife. Flying back from Narita Airport, he held first class tickets for Thai Airways’ flight TG677 to Bangkok. Included in the ticket was up to 120kg of baggage allowance.

    However, Mr Wallop and his wife brought with them baggage weighing at least 380kg in total. That meant he should have been liable to pay baggage charges on the 260kg of excess weight, something that would have cost the chairman hundreds of thousands of baht, or several thousand dollars.


    Rather than pay the charge, Mr Wallop ordered airline staff to under-report the weight of his baggage. He avoided the charges and flew back to Thailand without paying.

    When news of the discrepancy began to circulate among Thai Airways staff, the workers’ unions were outraged. There were angry calls for the chairman to tender his resignation. At one point, the unions ordered airline staff to wear black in protest of his actions.

    However, Wallop argued his case, saying that he was bringing back fruits and other items that he had planned to donate to local Buddhist temples. Whether that was what happened to the items is unknown, but when he was ordered later in the year to pay for the baggage, he resigned from his position.


    Finding him guilty of abuse of authority, the court also heard a case against him for being in receipt of gifts and donations. The former chairman allegedly received more than ฿3,000 ($100) worth of ‘gifts’, including fruit and Kobe beef from an unnamed private firm.


    The court sentenced Wallop to two years in jail, without suspension.


    Former Thai Airways CEO Jailed For Using Position To Avoid Luggage Fees - Simple Flying

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    However, Wallop argued his case, saying that he was bringing back fruits and other items that he had planned to donate to local Buddhist temples.
    Of course . . . nothing but the finest Japanese fruit for the gods

  3. #3
    . Neverna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    21,241
    So for a few thousand dollars, he no longer has a job as chairman of Thai Airways and gets two years in jail. I hope he enjoyed his fruit.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,216
    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    So for a few thousand dollars, he no longer has a job as chairman of Thai Airways and gets two years in jail
    ...something's wrong with this story: the chairman should be well enough connected to avoid any penalty...abuse of position is a perk of many (if not all) high level jobs here...

  5. #5
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    สุโขทัย
    Posts
    10,149
    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    So for a few thousand dollars, he no longer has a job as chairman of Thai Airways and gets two years in jail. I hope he enjoyed his fruit.

    Some of us cynical types might require a detailed follow up.
    Which prison?
    What kind of time might he serve?
    Was the sentence really enforced....or reduced?


    Has to be asked, as we all know that these class of folks are treated differently - the world over.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,216
    Quote Originally Posted by HuangLao View Post
    Has to be asked, as we all know that these class of folks are treated differently - the world over.
    ...like Ghosn in Japan, for example?...

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,555
    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...something's wrong with this story: the chairman should be well enough connected to avoid any penalty...abuse of position is a perk of many (if not all) high level jobs here...
    If he diverted embezzled funds away from where they were supposed to be embezzled.....

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    17,216
    ...maybe that's what 's wrong^...he delivered the fruit to the wrong party or worse: he started his own orchard...

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    I hope he enjoyed his fruit.
    Geez, Neverna . . . cynical much?

    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Wallop argued his case, saying that he was bringing back fruits and other items that he had planned to donate to local Buddhist temples.
    A good-hearted man, really

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •