Ex-Samut Prakan chief linked with THB100m temple-subsidy corruption: NACC
A former president of the Samut Prakan Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) and his accomplices engaged in fraudulent purchases with more than 100 million baht in temple subsidy money, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said on Monday.
Chonsawat Asavahame and up to seven accomplices were linked to corruption in 20 temple restoration projects between 2011 and 2013, the NACC’s investigation found.
Chonsawat had violated Section 151 of the Criminal Code with his fraudulent purchases and abuse of authority, resulting in damage to the state, the NACC said.
He faces a maximum of life imprisonment and a 400,000 baht fine if the court finds him guilty, it said. Chonsawat also violated Section 157 of the code by neglecting his duties, which carries penalties of 10 years in jail and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht, said the NACC.
Chonsawat is the son of fugitive politician Vatana Asavahame, who fled the country after being sentenced in 2008 to 10 years for corruption in the Klong Dan wastewater plant scandal.
In 2015, the Supreme Court sentenced Chonsawat to one year and six months in jail for fraud during the 1999 municipal elections in Samut Prakan. He was later granted a royal pardon on September 7, 2016.
