Graft probe against Suphoth to be launched

The National Anti Corruption Commission is to launch a graft probe against Transport permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom, on suspicion of unusual wealth, NACC member Klanarong Chantik said on Friday.

The probe is in connection with the testimonies of two burglar suspects who confessed to stealing Bt200 million in cash after breaking into Suphoth’s home, Klanarong said.

He said the probe would focus on three issues - whether Suphoth filed a false asset statement, whether he stashed ill-gotten gains and whether he was involved in irregularities.

Reacting to the probe, Suphoth said he was smeared by the suspects who claimed he might have hidden as much as Bt1 billion at his home.

"The claim to have stolen Bt200 million is not true because I don't have that much money," he said.

He said it was impossible to hide Bt200 million or Bt1 billion at his home.

In earlier reports, he gave a police a statement that he found Bt5 million cash missing following the break-in at his home.

Police held a press conference to unmask two of five suspects who had Bt2.8 million between them at the time of arrest.