Are things changing?

[Good soldier Schweik]

I read about the corrupt courts in Thailand and money governs
decisions but here are some government ministers convicted of
corruption. Are things changing?

Breakingnews � Breakingnews
Vatana, 18 others get 3 years jail
Published: 12/11/2009 at 01:30 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The Dusit District Court on Thursday sentenced former deputy interior
minister Vatana Assavahame and 18 other co-defendants to three years
imprisonment each without suspension after finding them guilty of
corruption involving the Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant in Samut
Prakan.

The court was to have handed down the verdict early last month but
postponed it when key defendants including Vatana failed to show up to
hear it. Vatana is one of the 19 co-defendants.

A warrant was subsequently issued for Vatana's arrest after the court
learned that he had fled abroad.

The Pollution Control Department in January 2004 filed a criminal
charge of fraud againt NVPSKG Joint Venture, which was contracted to
build the 23.7 billion baht wastewater treatment facility in Klong
Dan, and other defendants including politicians and government
officials.

The court said there was sufficient evidence to prove that the
defendants worked as a team to acquire land in Samut Prakan province
and sell it to the Pollution Control Department for a wastewater
treatment project.

Vatana, the 19th defendant, was then deputy interior minister and
abused his power by ordering officials to issue title deeds for the
land, which in fact was public land and not eligible to a land
ownership deed.

The court also ordered the defendants that are juristic entities pay a
fine of 6,000 baht each.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political
Positions last year found Vatana guilty of bribing officials in a land
grab also connected with the Klong Dan water project.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia after he jumped
bail and fled the country.

Cheers,

Schweik
(goodsoldierschweikatgmaildotcom)