As the whisperings and rustlings of political intrigue swirl within the hallowed halls of Thailand’s parliament, all eyes are on one man—Saksayam Chidchob. On an unassuming day marked August 3, this secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party strode confidently through the corridors, unaware that in just a few months, the Constitutional Court would perch precariously on the brink of a decisive verdict that could alter his destiny.
The aroma of anticipation is palpable as the court prepares to unveil the mystery surrounding allegations of share concealment against the former transport minister. On January 17, the pounding gavel will seal his fate, following a dramatic six-hour testimony-fest that unfolded just the other week. Saksayam, a venerable name that resonates deeply in the political landscape, took the stand with the gravitas only a seasoned politician could muster. He revealed the intricate tapestry of his shareholdings in the now-infamous Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the court for allowing him to weave his narrative.
The courtroom drama featured a cast of characters providing testimonies—Varaporn Thetsen, Supawat Kasemsut, Warangsiri Rakitti, Thitima Klaophimai, and Anchalee Parudram—each playing their part in the unfolding legal saga. The stakes were high, as the court had previously pressed pause on Saksayam’s ministerial duties amidst the cacophony of accusations that had begun during a no-confidence debate that echoed through the chambers of power just the year prior. With 54 opposition MPs sharpening their quills, the petition against this Buri Ram political heavyweight and sibling of the dynasty’s patriarch, Newin Chidchob, took flight.
Construction, the beating heart of the Chidchob family’s legacy, was at the core of the contention. Accusations flew like arrows that Saksayam deftly employed a nominee to cradle the shares of Burijarearn, a company that—by a twist of fate or otherwise—had its coffers jangling with billions of baht in contracts awarded by his own ministry! Scandal whispered in every shadowed corner: was an employee of Saksayam’s the clandestine holder of shares, in a dance around the fiery Section 187 of the constitution, which bans ministers from such financial embraces?
The plot thickened in the narrative, as our protagonist became the major shareholder of the controversial Burijarearn back in the fateful year of 2015, propelling the company to the zenith of a 120 million baht capital crescendo. The stage was set; projects worth 440 million baht between the curtains of 2015 and 2017, and Saksayam, the masterful orchestrator, was questioned. Did he slyly pass on his shares, valued at a staggering 119.4 million baht, to a nominee before stepping into the political limelight?
However, Saksayam parried with a counter-narrative, affirming a friend had the shares and the monetary flow could be traced, casting doubt on the allegations spun by his adversaries. Yet, as the clock ticked relentlessly towards the current year, the Move Forward Party released an explosive trove of new evidence, sending shockwaves through the courtroom. The annual financial report from Burijarearn unveiled an outstanding liability, a detail that had conveniently slipped through the cracks of Saksayam’s declarations before his coronation as a member of parliament and transport minister.
It is on this knife-edge of suspicion and defense that the destiny of Saksayam now rests. Will he emerge as the phoenix from the ashes of controversy, or will he be ensnared by the incontrovertible threads of evidence presented by the opposition? Only time, and the looming date with the Constitutional Court, will tell…
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