thailandedition
NACC Probes 'Big Joke' Asset Falsification Case Against Sombat Thornnam

NACC Probes 'Big Joke' Asset Falsification Case Against Sombat Thornnam

Matichon•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is intensifying its investigation into official Sombat Thornnam for allegedly falsifying asset declarations of Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn ('Big Joke') and his wife, with potential implications for past cases.

  • •The NACC is investigating Sombat Thornnam for allegedly falsifying asset declarations for Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn and his wife.
  • •The investigation stems from evidence suggesting Sombat Thornnam's involvement in improperly preparing asset and liability statements.
  • •If Sombat Thornnam is found guilty, the NACC plans to re-examine his past cases and alleged involvement in other bribery and corruption schemes.
  • •Sombat Thornnam previously resigned from his NACC role in March 2024 amidst these allegations.

Overview

  • •On June 2, a NACC investigation committee initiated proceedings regarding allegations against Sombat Thornnam.
  • •The NACC investigator reviewed a 1420-page document from the Bureau of Investigation of Police Corruption (BPC) concerning Sombat Thornnam, Jatupong Panizjaroen, and Aranya Ngamnuan.
  • •The case involves allegations that Sombat Thornnam and colleagues improperly prepared asset and liability declarations for Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn and his wife.
  • •The NACC investigator will further question Sombat Thornnam, providing an opportunity for him to clarify the matter soon.
  • •Sombat Thornnam previously served as an advisor to NACC committees and was a candidate for NACC Commissioner, failing to gain Senate approval.
  • •In late March 2024, Sombat Thornnam resigned from his role as an independent examiner of the NACC's asset and liability audit office.
  • •Sombat Thornnam is also serving as an advisor to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board member Somphop Purivikontragool, a move criticized due to his ongoing corruption investigations.
  • •In late 2025, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) charged Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, Sombat Thornnam, and others, including Eakavit, for allegedly offering 246 baht weight of gold as a bribe to Eakavit.
  • •The alleged bribe was intended to influence Eakavit's review of an online gambling case involving Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn.
  • •On September 1, 2027, Pol. Col. Pakaporn Phismay, a close associate of Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, was reportedly ordered to deliver the gold bribe to Eakavit.
  • •Later, Sombat Thornnam allegedly negotiated with Pol. Col. Pakaporn Phismay for him to retrieve the gold from Eakavit and keep it.
  • •Sombat Thornnam and former NACC member Supa Piyajitti served on the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) board in 1999 and faced complaints of corruption.
  • •On August 13, 2015, the NACC, led by then-acting Chairman Panthap Klangnarong and member Wicha Mahakhun, reviewed two corruption allegations against the BMTA board, including Sombat Thornnam and Pol. Maj. Gen. Wanchai Wisuttinun.
  • •The NACC ruled that the first allegation regarding assistance to S-Map Company for rental advertising space debt was not actionable as the state enterprise had the right to reduce such debts.
  • •The NACC also ruled that the second allegation concerning the bidding process for advertising space rental in 1999 was not actionable, as the BMTA board had the authority to amend tender conditions if beneficial to BMTA.
  • •The NACC deemed the second allegations against Sombat Thornnam and Pol. Maj. Gen. Wanchai Wisuttinun outside its jurisdiction due to being over 10 years old.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

National Anti-Corruption Commission(สำนักงานป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ)ℹ️
The government agency responsible for investigating corruption in Thailand.
Bureau of Investigation of Police Corruption(บก.ปปป.)
A department within the Royal Thai Police that investigated Sombat Thornnam and colleagues leading to the current NACC probe.
Senate(วุฒิสภา)ℹ️
The legislative body that previously considered and rejected Sombat Thornnam's nomination for NACC Commissioner.
Central Investigation Bureau(บช.ก.)ℹ️
The bureau that charged Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, Sombat Thornnam, and others in connection with a gold bribe.
NBTC Office(สำนักงาน กสทช.)ℹ️
The office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, which issued an order appointing Sombat Thornnam as an advisor.
NBTC(กสทช.)ℹ️
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, implicated in the controversy surrounding the appointment of Sombat Thornnam as an advisor.
BMTA(ขสมก.)ℹ️
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, where Sombat Thornnam and Supa Piyajitti served on the board and faced corruption allegations.
S-Map Company(บริษัท เอสแมพ จำกัด)
A private company that allegedly received improper assistance from BMTA officials regarding outstanding rental advertising space debts.

Person

Sombat Thornnam(นายสมบัติ ธรธรรม)
An NACC official under investigation for alleged falsification of asset declarations and involvement in bribery schemes.
Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn(พล.ต.อ.สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล)ℹ️
A high-ranking police official, referred to as 'Big Joke', whose asset declarations are allegedly being falsified; also accused of involvement in a gold bribery case.
Jatupong Panizjaroen(นายจัตุรงค์ พานิซเจริญ)
An NACC officer implicated alongside Sombat Thornnam in the alleged falsification of asset declarations.
Aranya Ngamnuan(น.ส.อารยา งามล้วน)
An NACC officer implicated alongside Sombat Thornnam in the alleged falsification of asset declarations.
Eakavit(นายเอกวิทย์)
An individual allegedly involved in a gold bribery scheme connected to the online gambling case, who was to review the case.
Pol. Gen. Surachet(พล.ต.อ.สุรเขษฐ์)ℹ️
A misspelling or alternative reference to Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, accused in the gold bribery case.
Pol. Col. Pakaporn Phismay(พ.ต.อ.ภาคภูมิ พิสมัย)
A former police officer close to Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, allegedly tasked with delivering a gold bribe.
Somphop Purivikontragool(นายสมภพ ภูริวิกรัยวงศ์)
A member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board who appointed Sombat Thornnam as an advisor.
Supa Piyajitti(น.ส.สุภา ปิยะจิตติ)
A former NACC member and former Deputy Minister of Finance who served on the BMTA board and faced corruption allegations that were dismissed.
Panthap Klangnarong(นายปานเทพ กล้าณรงค์ราญ)
The former acting Chairman of the NACC who presided over the decision to dismiss corruption allegations against the BMTA board.
Wicha Mahakhun(นายวิชา มหาคุณ)
A former member of the NACC who participated in the decision to dismiss corruption allegations against the BMTA board.
Peerapong Isarabhakdee(นายพีระพงศ์ อิศรภักดี)
Former Director of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) who, along with 13 others, was accused of improperly assisting S-Map Company.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wanchai Wisuttinun(พล.ต.ต.วันชัย วิสุทธินันท์)
An individual alongside Sombat Thornnam whose corruption allegations related to the BMTA were deemed outside the NACC's jurisdiction due to the statute of limitations.

Law

Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2018(พระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต พ.ศ.2018)
The legal framework that sets the statute of limitations for corruption investigations, specified as 2 years, extendable by 1 year.