Red-shirt leader's wife deemed unusually wealthy

Red-shirt leader's wife deemed unusually wealthy

Rapipun Pongreangrong with her husband Arisman Pongreangrong shown on her Facebook account during the Songkran festival in April. Arisman is currently out on bail, on trial in a terrorism charge.
Rapipun Pongreangrong with her husband Arisman Pongreangrong shown on her Facebook account during the Songkran festival in April. Arisman is currently out on bail, on trial in a terrorism charge.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to ask the Supreme Court to confiscate assets worth 42.82 million baht from former Pheu Thai MP Rapipun Pongreangrong, wife of red-shirt leader Arisman Pongreangrong, for having "unusual wealth".

NACC secretary-general Worawit Sookboon said oon Monday the commission will ask public prosecutors to bring the case in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

The commission launched an investigation after learning Ms Rapipun's wealth increased by 21.53 million baht during her term as a party list MP of Pheu Thai, from July 3, 2011, to Dec 9, 2013.

A sub-committee headed by commissioner Supa Piyajitti looked into the source of her wealth.

Mr Worawit said Ms Rapipun had made many financial transactions through her bank accounts and bought a lot of assets during her tenure. Those were acts of transforming and concealing assets.

Initially, four assets worth 15.54 million baht were frozen - cash deposits, land, a building and a vehicle.

After considering asset verification reports, the NACC resolved that Mrs Rapipun had unaccounted for wealth of 42.82 million baht.

They consisted of money in six bank accounts totalling 27.62 million baht, three blocks of land worth 9.49 million baht, a building worth 2 million baht, a BMW 730Ld worth 1.8 million baht, and a 1.9 million-baht debt repayment with a bank.

Her husband Arisman is currently out on bail, facing trial on a terrorism charge.

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