Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) & Thailand Lottery losers
Bangkok Post
The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) on Monday recommended the indictment of 47 people, including three cabinet ministers in the present government, for alleged mismanagement of the two-and three-digit lottery.
Sak Korsangruang, a member of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) confirmed that a team of legal experts was preparing on Monday monring to hand over documents in the case to the court.
“It is now up to the Supreme Court whether or not to accept the case,” Mr Sak said, adding that the prime minister was not notified before the case was filed.
The accused include Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart. Others include former cabinet ministers of the Thaksin Shinawatra government and officials of the Government Lottery Office (GLO). The indictment was prepared by a team from the Lawyers Council. It details the case regarding the July 8, 2003 resolution by the then Thaksin cabinet approving the digit lottery and a plan to implement it.
The first draw was on Aug 1, 2003 and draws continued until Nov 26, 2006.
The indictment accuses the individuals of violating articles of the Criminal Code and the 1959 Offences Committed by State Officials Act.
It says the alleged irregularities in the lottery scheme caused the state financial damage amounting to 36.9 billion baht.
The GLO lost about 14.6 billion baht in revenue, the Finance Ministry lost 8.9 billion baht in tax revenue, the Interior Ministry 12.7 billion baht in tax revenue and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration lost about 336 million baht in tax revenue.
The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to order the 47 people to pay the damages.
A source at the ASC said the inquiry sub-committee chaired by Udom Fuangfung will advise Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in writing of the planned indictment of the three cabinet ministers.
The ASC decided to bypass the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and take the case directly to the Supreme Court’s criminal division for holders of political positions.
The ASC had earlier sent the case to the attorney-general and recommended that it indict 47 people – former Thaksin cabinet members and state officials – over the allegedly unlawful launch of the two- and three-digit lottery scheme. The OAG told the ASC to re-investigate the case.
Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) & Thailand Lottery losers
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