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Published on September 27, 2007

 Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya announced his resignation yesterday to take responsibility for ethical concerns over shareholdings he held in two companies.

One of the firms won two contracts worth Bt6 million to supply canned fish to a department under his supervision.

"I am accountable for what my subordinates did even though I had no prior knowledge about the contracts," he said.

The Provincial Administra-tion Department, which is under Aree's jurisdiction, bought two lots of canned fish as relief supplies from Kuang Peisan, a listed firm Aree has a 0.3 per cent stake - 30,000 shares at Bt0.1 per share.

Aree's link to the two deals, seen as a conflict of interest, came to light on Tuesday.

Last week, the National Counter Corruption Commis-sion released a report accusing Aree of having shares in Trang Sure Co in excess of a 5 per cent limit imposed on ministers prior to the coup, but which is not a punishable offence under the interim constitution.

Aree said he had consistently declared his shares on three occasions without being aware of the equity cap. He disclosed his assets when appointed to be permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, deputy Education minister and Interior minister, he said.

"I would have rectified the cap violations if I knew about the rule," he said.

Aree said he had had no involvement in the two deals for canned fish, saying that departmental officials could conclude small transactions without notifying the minister.

"Legally, I am the supervising officer and will take responsibility for what happened," he said.

Before announcing his pending departure, he had sought and received the green light from the prime minister, he said. In regard to who would succeed him, Aree said that was a matter for the prime minister to decide.

Aree said his two deputies, Banyat Jansena and Thirawut Butsriphum, would stay on in their job.

He dismissed speculation he was close to the junta chief because General Sonthi Boon-yaratglin had allegedly had a fling with his daughter.

"Religiously speaking, it is sinful to smear a person."

He said one of his two girls was studying abroad and another was attending classes at Mahidol University.

The Nation