Critics have pledged to closely examine Pheu Thai’s digital wallet initiative and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s involvement with a company that acquired a controversial monastic plot in Pathum Thani, which includes Alpine Golf Club and a housing complex.
Suwit Thongprasert, an activist formerly known as Phra Buddha Isara, announced on Facebook that various groups planned to approach multiple independent government bodies to investigate these matters the day after Ms Paetongtarn’s swearing-in before His Majesty the King.
“Pheu Thai promised that the 10,000-baht [digital wallet handout] would be promptly distributed without the need to borrow money. Almost one year has passed, and the public has yet to receive a single baht from the scheme,” he stated.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) previously cautioned the government about proceeding with this initiative, highlighting several legal concerns and corruption risks.
Chao Meekhuad, a former deputy spokesman for the Democrat Party, commented on the Pathum Thani land issue, suggesting Ms Paetongtarn should return the disputed property to the temple to prevent legal disputes that might jeopardize her position as Prime Minister.
The land in Klong Luang district, Pathum Thani, was initially donated by the widow Noem Chamnanchartsakda to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn in Prachuap Khiri Khan in 1971.
Following her passing, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation, designated as her estate’s executor, sold the property to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, where Ms Paetongtarn holds shares.
In 2017, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases found former Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit guilty of abusing his authority by facilitating the sale of the monastic land for the development of the Alpine Golf Club while he was the acting permanent secretary for the interior in 2002.
In 2019, the Appeal Court confirmed a two-year prison sentence initially imposed by the lower court. In 2020, the Appeal Court rejected his request to appeal the ruling.
The NACC determined Yongyuth was responsible for annulling a Land Department directive that rescinded the sale of the 732-rai monastic land to Alpine Real Estate Co.
The Council of State declared the transaction illegal because the land was designated as monastic, resulting in land officials having to nullify the agreement.
