Thailand鈥檚 Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters yesterday that he had borrowed all the luxury wristwatches from a very rich friend, who collected timepieces and died early last year (and unfortunately can鈥檛 answer the public鈥檚 burning questions about where the watches came from and if they were ever declared as anyone鈥檚 assets).
Prawit鈥檚 unusual wealth became public interest over the past four months after he was photographed in December sporting a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch costing between THB4-10 million and a flashy diamond ring.
Social media then started collecting past photographs of the junta No. 2. 鈥淐SI LA鈥 Facebook page, which investigates and raises awareness of social issues, has counted 25 watches collectively worth THB39.5 million (US$1.2 million), including 11 Rolexes, eight Patek Philippe鈥檚 and three Richard Milles.
Watch Yourself: Thai Deputy PM blasted for baller diamond watch similar to Jay-Z鈥檚
However, the watches were undeclared on Prawit鈥檚 THB87.3 million (US$2.8 million) asset list, a document mandatory upon taking office in Thailand.
Prawit told media yesterday that he borrowed all 25 watches from his deceased close friend Pattawat Suksiwong, whom he went to Saint Gabriel’s school in Bangkok with, reported.
Prawit said that his friend was a billionaire who collected about 200-300 luxury timepieces.
鈥淲e were very close, and he was very rich,鈥 Prawit said.
鈥淧attawat had always been rich. He had lent me his watches for 20-30 years. When they got old or I got bored with the watches, I returned them and he lent me new ones. I鈥檇 been doing this for a long time. He didn鈥檛 give me any of the watches — 聽he just lent them me because he was a collector.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 not stupid. I鈥檝e been a bureaucrat for a long time. How many times was I a minister? How could I not know about the assets declaration?鈥
Prawit鈥檚 response came after the National Anti-Corruption Commission had a meeting on Thursday to discuss the investigation on Prawit鈥檚 timepieces.
A secretary to NACC, Worawit Sukboon, said on Thursday that the organization is questioning witnesses and collecting evidence from 13 companies about the watches鈥 serial numbers, which would prove who their legal owner was, according to
About the flashy diamond ring, Worawit said it was passed on to Prawit by his father. Since the ring costs less than THB200,000 ($US6,412), the junta boss wasn鈥檛 required to declare it.
Related:
On borrowed time? Thai 鈥楻olex General鈥 luxury watch claims probed
