Sorayuth’s final message before going to prison

[webfact]

Sorayuth’s final message before going to prison

 

 

Former TV celebrity Sorayuth Suthasanachinda, convicted of embezzling 138 million baht in advertising fees from The Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT), said that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions in full awareness that the Supreme Court cannot overturn his conviction in two lower courts.

 

“I have fought (the case) in accordance with legal process. Whatever the outcome, I have to accept it,” said the well-known news anchor on Instagram today (Tuesday), ahead of the Supreme Court delivering its ruling. His original prison term of 13 years and four months was reduced to 8 years.

 

Sorayuth said that he had already repaid the 138 million baht to the MCOT and that he accepts the two lower court verdicts and had never thought of fleeing the country. “Of course, I am afraid of being jailed, but I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, never had a life such that I could not spend time in prison. The past 30 years of working, I would say, has sometimes been tougher than prison, but the most important thing in those 30 years was my freedom.”

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/sorayuths-final-message-before-going-to-prison/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-01-22

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[ezzra]

Amazing how all those croock become all of a sudden very philosophical and temperate about their faith something that eluded them while busy thieving, all that society want that hopefully in them 13 years or so in prison he will learn a lesson and teach others that greed and disregards for basic human values carry a price to pay...

Edited January 21, 2020 by ezzra

[Dexlowe]

He was a very arrogant man who strutted around the office like he was the chosen one. Even some of the Thai staff disliked him. He treated foreigners with contempt, although I suspect part of that was to do with the fact that his English was almost non-existent. But credit to him for staying and facing the music. 

[rkidlad]

It takes a good man to accept his punishment after he’s been caught red-handed stealing millions of baht. 
 

Let him go. The poor thing. 

[MartinL]

Just watched a eulogy to him on Channel 3 with an emotional, tearful speech from his former co-presenter and a sentimental photo montage to finish. I appreciate that this was a presentation by his former work colleagues and was bound to be a bit biased but had to ask why he was being portrayed as some sort of hero rather than just another convict. 

[Somtamnication]

One crook down, about 10,000 others left to face the music. 

[Scouse123]

I remember him well. I watched him daily.

 

He had very much a style and arrogant attitude not dissimilar to the UK's Piers Morgan.

 

He could be right on many things he said but it was usually over shadowed with the need for the limelight and making it all about himself.

 

Anyway, he paid the money back only after he was bang to rights and then tried denying he was trying to embezzle it.

 

Maybe he can do a prison radio station whilst reflecting the error of his ways, greedy <deleted>.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 and had never thought of fleeing the country.

....though regrets it now

[ireckonso]

Im Innocent, its not like everyone else doesn't do it, and hey i paid back the money. lol

[Yadon Toploy]

Just one out of millions that actually faces justice for base immorality and criminality.

 

Must have stepped on the wrong toes to do bird here.

[URMySunshine]

Missus said he supported Thaksin and didn't feed the army. Case closed. 

[BobBKK]

Not one of the 'chosen ones' then

[rkidlad]

1 hour ago, MartinL said:

Just watched a eulogy to him on Channel 3 with an emotional, tearful speech from his former co-presenter and a sentimental photo montage to finish. I appreciate that this was a presentation by his former work colleagues and was bound to be a bit biased but had to ask why he was being portrayed as some sort of hero rather than just another convict. 

There's a good scene in Die Hard (aren't they all good) where Holly McClane accuses Hans Gruber of being nothing more than a 'common thief'. Enraged and offended by her accusation, he rebuts with, "I'm an exceptional thief!". At least he knew he was a thief. 

 

It's amazing how people can delude themselves, and others, into ignoring their actions and buying into their empty words. 

 

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

but I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth

But you embezzled the company so you had a life of riches... bye bye trash stop bleating and do the time.

Hope the missus waits for you to come out!!

[Misterwhisper]

From now on it will no longer be about stealing millions of baht, but all about stealing fish heads from your cellmates' soup. Enjoy your own personal reality show, Mr. Sorrayuth. 

[sammieuk1]

Looks like he is the scapegoat in a wider rip off of the behind the scenes army owned channels that's according to my Mrs ???? 

[rickudon]

13 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

From now on it will no longer be about stealing millions of baht, but all about stealing fish heads from your cellmates' soup. Enjoy your own personal reality show, Mr. Sorrayuth. 

You really think this? He will get cordon bleu meals delivered every day, just pay the guards. Probably a private cell too.

[neeray]

My pity level is ZERO for persons who gain wealth via corruption at the expense of others.

His gain (albeit temporary) amounts to some (approximate) 45 million US dollars.

 

And others do slave-like work for 300 baht per day.

 

[monkfish]

It's not very often you see an influential person got to prison in Thailand
but seems he was stealing from the Army TV channels and that's a big mistake.
Look forward to hearing about those Civil Servants stealing from the Destitute fund go to prison soon
any news on that or they still working as advisors to the pm? 




 

[JonnyF]

He always came across as very arrogant, nodding his head like a peacock as he put the world to rights.

 

I never liked him and wasn't surprised that he was simply a common thief beneath his self righteousness. Let's hope he's the first of many, although I suspect the only reason he's doing time is that he wasn't prepared to share the loot with the right people.

[Thingamabob]

He didn't make donations to the army, and only paid back money to those to whom he owed it. No chance, therefore, of avoiding jail.

[Oziex1]

Funny how it goes,  I almost feel sorry for him as so many like him do not see the inside of a cell. 

[URMySunshine]

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Looks like he is the scapegoat in a wider rip off of the behind the scenes army owned channels that's according to my Mrs ???? 

Our missuses seem to be right sherlocks - let that be a lesson if you want to play hooky. 

 

Mine reckons it will be a cush private cell , imported food and all the luxuries befitting a man of note. It won't be the hell holes we've all seen online.

Edited January 22, 2020 by URMySunshine

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, ireckonso said:

Im Innocent, its not like everyone else doesn't do it, and hey i paid back the money. lol

 

When in Rome (Thailand), etc etc....  

 

Clearly, he's a victim of his society and environment.

[phutoie2]

usual bar stool b*llix on here.

well I liked him and so did a lot of Thais.

He did a lot of good stuff when Bangkok was flooded a few years back.

Not everyone is up the Army's backside here.

[holy cow cm]

So they can send him to prison but not the little fat guy who got caught with watches or all those Generals who have wealth far beyond their means that ever could make them rich.

[bannork]

He was extremely popular for many years, recognised in every household. I believe he actually owned his morning show on Channel 3 and thus brought in millions of baht a day through advertising.

And then an evening interview with whoever featured in the news that day. Sometimes I thought he was insensitive, probing someone who had just lost a child in an accident, for example.

And then he had programmes every Saturday and Sunday. For 10 or more years he literally didn't have a day off.

I couldn't understand it, so rich yet still so driven to work relentlessly.

He'll be out in 3 years, probably back on Channel 3!

[Rhys]

Somebody inside is going to be his keeper...the guards and administrators..  in with the population.. yeah right..

[GinBoy2]

Just a general point. 

 

Posts keep referencing the fact that Ch3 is owned by the military.

 

My understanding was that Ch3 was the main one NOT owned by the military, and it's Ch5 & 7 that the military own outright.

 

Now MCOT the other partner in ownership of Ch3 with BEC is a government organization, but on the civilian side....if there is any distinction these days!

[Salerno]

27 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

My understanding was that Ch3 was the main one NOT owned by the military

And you are correct.