The national anti-graft agency is likely to seek legal indictment of former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan in connection with a bribery scandal involving Hollywood film-makers, its spokesman said yesterday.
The NACC had asked the former TAT governor to give information but she had sent a letter to the agency, saying she needed time to prepare and look through documents on the matter. But Juthamas has yet to turn up at the NACC. However, Klanarong said, if the NACC found that she was guilty, it would then forward the case to the Office of the Attorney-General so the public prosecutors could indict her and take the matter to court.
On Thursday, a Los Angeles court sentenced film producers Gerald Green and his wife Patricia to six months in jail and six months of home detention for paying US$1.8 million (Bt57.4 million) in bribes to Thai officials, including Juthamas, in exchange for a deal to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival between 2002 and 2007. They must also pay $250,000 in restitution.
The couple was found guilty of paying bribes to the former tourism chief via bank accounts in Singapore, the isle of Jersey and Britain set up in the names of Juthamas's daughter Jittisopa Siriwan and a friend.
US prosecutors said the Greens had received more than US$13.5 million in revenue from the contract. Mrs Green was also found guilty of submitting false United States tax returns.
Klanarong said the case against Juthamas was being investigated by NACC commissioner Methi Krongkaew, who attended the court hearing in Los Angeles on Thursday in the Greens' case.
The case against Juthamas would progress once Methi returned to Thailand. Juthamas has not appeared to defend herself since being notified by the NACC in late May. The authorities involved in her case say that her whereabouts are unknown.