Education minister is richest in Thai Cabinet

BANGKOK, December 24 (TNA) - Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has announced assets and liabilities of ministers of the Yingluck Shinawatra 3 Cabinet, with Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana being the richest with nearly 3-billion-baht wealth; while a deputy health minister is the least rich with 3.4 million baht in his purse. In the Yingluck 3 Cabinet, which started on November 1, 2012 with 23 ministers having taken 24 positions, Pongthep declares he has 331 million baht, his wife has 2.59 billion baht and they are debt-free. The second richest is Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldilok with 1.14 billion baht in net assets, followed by Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong with assets worth 963 million baht more than debts. Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Cholanan Srikaew is the least rich with assets worth 3.41 million baht higher than debts. The second least rich is Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yutthapong Charassathien who has assets worth 5.19 million baht higher than debts. Meanwhile, the assets and liabilities of those who were just excluded from the Cabinet do not change much from what they had declared upon taking office. (TNA)