The sun had barely begun its climb as Itthipol stepped off the plane, arriving from Phnom Penh, and breathed in the air of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The time was 10 am sharp, but this was no leisurely vacation return. Instead, awaiting him were the stern faces of the immigration police, promptly snapping into action and taking him into their custody.
Itthipol, a former minister, was the person of interest in an elaborate vortex of alleged corruption surrounding the construction of the eye-catching Waterfront Suites and Residences that rose and fell in Pattaya back in September 2008. The fleeting freedom he enjoyed came to an end as an arrest warrant, issued a month prior, finally caught up to him. This manhunt was instigated when Itthipol opted to leave Thailand on August 30, a single day after the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) explicitly ordered him to face prosecution.
This prosecution mandate came as a result of allegations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission accusing him of engaging in severe misconduct. The charges he faces, if substantiated by evidence leading to a guilty verdict, carry an imposing penalty ranging from one to a full decade behind bars.
As noontime crept closer, Itthipol, now a captive of the law, was led to the OAG’s Area 2 Office that specifically handles corruption cases located in Rayong’s pulse-filled Muang district. His lawyer, a steadfast companion in this challenging situation, guided him to face the charges. He managed to muster a smile for the media crew eagerly documenting his arrival, although he refrained from addressing them.
Once the formalities of hearing the charges wrapped up, the next phase was a visit to the corruption court Area 2 where he would be formally charged. His lawyer, never far from his side, revealed his intentions of seeking a bail release.
The weight of his past roles as the culture minister in the second cabinet of former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and as the younger sibling of former Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem seemed to hang heavy on his shoulders. Itthipol wore these titles during his tenure as Pattaya’s mayor at the age of 50, a time when he held the authority to greenlight the construction of the ill-fated Waterfront condo project handled by Bali Hai Co Ltd back in the zenith of 2008.
The project, once a towering condo, was erected on a two-rai land patch located at the foot of Phra Tamnak Hill. Its proximity to Pattaya Bay and the bustling Bali Hai Pier painted it as a prime location. This architectural marvel met an unfortunate fate and was subsequently demolished due to the discovery that its permit had been unlawfully issued.
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