Chuwit Kamolvisit, the former massage parlor tycoon turned infamous whistleblower, has sharpened his attack on the Bhumjai Thai Party (BJT) in recent weeks prompting threats of litigation and muckraking.
To recap, Chuwit went after the party for alleged irregularities within the concession for the Orange Line’s western expansion. The BJT-run Ministry of Transport was in charge of the concession.
Chuwit also criticized Bhumjaithai’s marijuana policy, arguing that it is now easier for Thai youths to access the plant following its decriminalization.
Not without merit
The claims are not without merit.
Surachet Pravinvongvuth, an MP from the opposition Move Forward Party, alleged in November that there were irregularities in the bidding process for the Orange Line expansion.
The first round of bidding was canceled because the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand decided to change the bidding conditions. After the conditions were changed, the concession was awarded to Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM).
If the first round was not canceled, the Bangkok Mass Transit System would have won the concession and the government would be required to pay 9.67 billion baht to subsidize the extension.
With the BEM, the government will have to pay up to 78.28 billion baht, or 68.6 billion baht more.
According to Chuwit, the people in charge of the deal received 30 billion baht to rig the bidding process. There is also money being paid to the courts overseeing the litigation surrounding the bid.
Bhumjai Thai in Trouble?
To make matters worse for BJT, this month Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob was suspended by the Constitutional Court for alleged share concealment.
54 opposition MPs accused Saksayam of holding shares in a construction company, Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership, which was awarded billions of baht worth of state contracts from the transport ministry.
The court found enough grounds to suspend him pending investigation. Saksayam denied the accusation, saying that he did not use a nominee to hold shares worth 119.4 million baht in the company and that it was sold to a friend.
Chuwit also accused Saksayam of using a nominee to donate to his own party which is against political party rules and if found guilty, the party could be dissolved.
The party has threatened Chuwit with litigation and accused the massage parlor tycoon of libel. Some charges have been filed.
Muckraking
Chuwit’s high profile in recent months has come at a cost and activist-lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd has accused Chuwit of accepting hush money from some parties.
The lawyer posted a photo of two bags with what he said was a 10 million baht hush money that Chuwit received from Pol Lt Col Wasawat Mukurasakul who is also known as “Inspector Sua.”
Chuwit had exposed Inspector Sua for his alleged involvement with an online gambling network and the inspector is now suspended while under investigation.
Chuwit admitted that he received the money from a representative of Inspector Sua.
However, Chuwit said that he took the money but he did not stop exposing Inspector Sua and then donated the money to two hospitals instead.
It is on public record that Chuwit has donated hundreds of millions of baht worth of prize money that he received for exposing Chinese triads last year to buy equipment for hospitals.
Given that these high-profile allegations come at a time when Chuwit is under extreme pressure from the people that he has put in jail or put in the spotlight, one has to wonder about their motives.