Court sentences former TAT governor for film festival bribery

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) – The Criminal Court on Wednesday handed down the maximum 50-year jail term for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) former governor Juthamas Siriwan in a film festival bribery case. The court also sentenced her daughter, Jittisopha Siriwan, 44 years in prison on the same charge and ordered the seizure of their assets worth more than 62 million baht. The duo travelled to hear the verdict themselves. They were convicted for seeking and receiving 65 million baht of kickback from an American couple in exchange for a right to hold the Bangkok International Film Festival during 2003-2007 without going through a proper bidding process. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last week said a panel found Ms Juthamas usually rich by using her position to gain wealth. It asked the US authorities to seize her 60-million –baht assets in bank deposits and to transfer to the Thai state. (TNA)