Bangkok - The former head of Thailand's state-run tourism
authority on Thursday tendered her resignation as deputy leader of a
political party contesting the upcoming polls amid accusations that
she received 1.7 million dollars in bribes from a US couple.
Juthamas Siriwan, who was Tourism Authortity of Thailand (TAT)
governor between 2002 to 2006, handed in her resignation as deputy
leader of the Puea Pandin Party after being fingered on Tuesday by
the US Justice Department as the recipient of 1.7 million dollars in
bribes from US film executive Gerald Green and his wife Patricia.
'Juthamas has resigned in a show of responsibility,' said Puea
Pandin party spokesman Wachiramon Kanakasemthanawat. 'Her resignation
will facilitate a transparent investigation into her case.'
He said Juthamas' resignation assures there is no impact on the
Puea Pandin party which is contesting the general election on Sunday.
Juthamas has denied having received a bribe from the Greens, who
were arrested in Los Angeles on Tuesday on federal charges that
they conspired to bribe a TAT official to obtain a contract to run
the Bangkok International Film Festival worth more than 10 million
dollars, a US Justice Department statement said.
The complaint alleges that from 2003 and continuing into 2007,
the Greens conspired with others to bribe the former governor of the
tourism authority and president of the film festival.
'As a result of her position at the TAT, the governor was able to
influence the awarding of the Bangkok International Film Festival
contracts as well as other TAT contracts. More than 1.7 million
dollars in payments were allegedly made for the benefit of the
governor,' the US Justice Department said.
The case is being investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office.
Thailand's National Counter Corruption Commission has sought
further information on the case from the US to determine whether it
will launch an investigation into Juthamas.
'All the procedures involving the case had been done according to
the regulations and with fairness and transparence to all agencies
concerned,' Juthamas told a press conference in Bangkok on Wednesday.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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