Surapong jailed one year for unlawfully amending Thaicom contract
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders Thursday sentenced former Information and Communications Technology minister Surapong Suebwonglee to one year in jail after convicting him in abusing of authority related to the amendment
In the case that was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in 2004, Surapong, then-ICT deputy permanent secretary Kraisorn Pornsutee, and the Space Affairs Bureau's then-executive director Chaiyan Peungkiatpairote were found by the court of having committed dereliction of duty by amending the concession contract to benefit Shin Corp. Shin Corp was then owned by the Shinawatra family.
The amendment allowed Shin Corp to reduce its shareholding in Shin Satellite, which later changed named to Thaicom, from 51 per cent to 40 per cent.
They were found guilty of unlawfully amending the contract without seeking an approval from the Cabinet first. The Cabinet was then headed by Thaksin Shinawatra.
The court suspended jail term against Kraisorn and Chaiyan and put them on probation for five years. Each was fined Bt20,000.
