Phuket NACC checks land brokerage income declared by Cherng Talay OrBorTor chief
The NACC says it will examine the money trail behind Manoch Panchalad’s declared B800,000 in land brokerage income and B4.26 million from real-estate brokerage, but has not opened an investigation.
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will examine the financial trail behind income declared by Cherng Talay OrBorTor chief Manoch Panchalad, who reported B800,000 from land brokerage and B4.26 million from real-estate brokerage.
NACC Phuket chief Suwat Saowarun said the agency would check who transferred the money and whether the payments were connected to people seeking permission for land or real-estate-related matters. He confirmed that no investigation into Manoch had been opened.
Suwat did not say whether a sitting OrBorTor chief could legally continue such work. “If it was done for extra income before, there was nothing wrong with it. But according to the principle, once he has taken the position and is still in the position, he should not continue,” he said.
He described the work as “not very appropriate” for an OrBorTor chief, whose responsibilities include decisions involving land, construction, real estate and law enforcement. The NACC will also check whether the income declared to the commission was reported to the Revenue Department.
The declarations were published on the NACC’s website after OrBorTor chiefs were required to submit them by 30 June. Under Thai law, officials must declare their own income and assets, as well as those of their spouses.
Manoch declared B903,600 in salary, B624,000 in bonuses, B240,000 in meeting allowances, B680,000 from house rentals, B800,000 from land brokerage and B4.26 million from real-estate brokerage. He reported assets worth B18,653,349.68. His spouse declared B790,000 from selling land and B440,000 from house rentals, with assets of B6,235,421.26. Their combined annual income was listed as B8,737,600 and total assets as B24,888,770.94.
Other Phuket OrBorTor chiefs also reported income from property-related activities. Koh Kaew chief Kueakiat Jitkuea declared B2 million from market rentals, while his spouse reported B884,211 from market rentals. Their combined assets were listed as B123,028,706.
Mai Khao chief Sarawut Srisakukham declared B2.01 million from market rentals and B500,000 from land brokerage. He reported assets of B68,154,257.02, while assets reported for his child brought the total to B68,236,101.68. Sarawut declared that he was divorced.
The declarations also showed that Thepkrasattri chief Sittichai Chanthawat reported annual income of B686,700 and total assets of B1,488,412 for himself and his spouse; Kamala chief Jaroon Kobkoy and his spouse reported combined annual income of B1,216,000 and assets of B29,007,124.98; and Sakhu chief Trin Panyawai and his spouse reported combined annual income of B646,756.85 and assets of B56,204,243.80.
Suwat urged the public to report suspected irregularities, including cases in which an official’s apparent wealth or lifestyle does not match their declared income and assets. “NACC Phuket is ready to receive the complaint,” he said.
