US court goes after ex TAT governor
LOS ANGELES – The US government will seek to extradite ex-Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Juthamas Siriwan, and her daughter, Jittisopa Siriwan, to face charges of conspiracy to launder money and eight other counts.
Radio Thailand reported that the US would seek to extradite the couple, but the process had yet to be initiated and could take as long as a year to conclude.
The news broadcast also confirmed that the US court had accused the ex TAT governor and daughter of receiving bribes.
If convicted they each face up to 20 years in prison, but it is not clear how Ms Juthamas and Ms Jittisopa intend to plea or whether they will defend themselves in the US court or appoint a US lawyer.
Both are currently resident in Thailand.
Officials working for Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission are still investigating the US allegations, but have not reached a conclusion on whether to press charges in a Thai court of law
The wire service Associated Press quotes Federal prosecutors who alleged that Ms Juthamas accepted about US$1.8 million in bribes from film producers, Gerald and Patricia Green, between 2002 and 2007 so the couple could run the Bangkok Film Festival and land other tourism-related deals.
The scheme netted the couple, who inflated their budgets so Ms Juthamas could be paid off, about US$13.5 million.
Prosecutors claim that Ms Juthamas and Ms Jittisopa opened bank accounts in Singapore and the UK to receive the corrupt payments.
The Greens were convicted last September of conspiracy and money laundering.
Sentencing of the Greens, due yesterday, has been delayed until March.
Judge George Wu yesterday in the Federal Court in Los Angeles requested some sort of official statement from the Thai government declaring Thailand had been harmed by the Greens’ activities.
“Normally,†said Wu, “I hear from victims about how their lives were destroyed by the defendants. I haven’t heard that here.â€
Prosecutors say 78-year-old Gerald Green could face more than 30 years in prison, while his 55-year-old wife could receive 19 to 24 years.
Source: TTR Online and Agencies
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