Panadda tops Cabinet rich list
DEPUTY education minister ML Panadda Diskul is the richest cabinet minister in the new Cabinet, according to declarations revealed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday.
Panadda came out on top with assets outvaluing liabilities by Bt1.3 billion. Most of his declared properties were in form of estates in inner Bangkok’s Nang Loeng, Dusit and Bang Sue districts.
Justice Minister Suwapan Tanyuvardhana declared the smallest fortune, having a net worth of less than Bt26 million in assets cleared of liabilities. Besides bank deposits and real estate, some members of the fourth Cabinet under Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration also declared interesting assets such as antiques and Buddha amulets.
Suwit Maesinsee, Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, declared more than 130 antique items worth nearly Bt23 million, while his total assets were worth Bt73.4 million.
The antique items the minister declared included ancient ceramics and statues from the Sukhothai period, ancient scales, Khmer Shiva lingas, graven images and Chinese pillars. Newcomers in the latest Cabinet also declared assets worth more than Bt100 million.
Deputy commerce minister Sonthirat Sonthichirawong has assets worth Bt113 million with almost half, or nearly Bt50 million, in investments.
Sonthirat also showed he had 68 items of jewellery and Buddhist amulets, which combined were worth more than Bt60 million.
Among the items were rarities associated with Prasomdej Wat Kej-Chaiyo, Phra Nang Phaya Khao Ngor and Phra Sum Kor Kamphaeng Phet. Each of the rare amulets could reportedly be sold for six to seven-figure amounts on the open market.
Deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister Chutima Boonyaprapassorn had assets worth more than Bt240 million, with nearly Bt140 million in investments, including gold bar certificates, debentures worth Bt15 million and bills of exchange worth Bt10 million.
Deputy transport minister Pichit Akrathit and his spouse Thida had nearly Bt150 million in assets, most of which were in bank deposits and investment funds. Deputy foreign affair minister Virasak Futrakul showed Bt186 million in assets, with more than Bt110 million worth of land in Bangkok’s high-value districts such as Dusit, Phaya Thai and Phra Khanong.
Digital economy society minister Pichet Durongkaveroj, Science and Technology Minister Archaka Sriboonruang, Ormsin Chivaphruek of the PM’s Office and Education Minister Teerakiat CharoenSrettasilp had Bt83 million, Bt82 million, Bt68 million and Bt44 million in assets respectively.
