Poom Sarapol: The Shinawatra loyalist crushed by rice scandal fallout

18 Sept 03:31 Key points summarised by AI

Poom Sarapol, a Shinawatra loyalist, faces potential financial ruin as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) seeks to seize 19.94 million baht in assets, even after his recent release from prison.
The NACC's petition to the Supreme Court targets assets including cars, bank deposits, and land, alleging Poom amassed "unusual wealth" during his time as deputy commerce minister.
Poom served seven years for malfeasance linked to the Yingluck government's fraudulent rice-pledging scheme, where he approved fake government-to-government rice sales.
His conviction was part of a major scandal that also saw former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom jailed and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra flee the country to avoid her own sentence.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.