Bangkok Post (2 Nov 2007)
The government broadcaster Mcot charges a firm owned by popular TV host Sorayuth Suthassanachinda has cost it millions.Mcot Plc on Wednesday filed a fraud complaint with police against six of its employees and Rai Som Co, accusing them of causing Mcot more than 130 million baht in financial damage. A legal officer said he lodged the complaint with police after Mcot's fact-finding panel set up to probe the allegedly fraudulent scheme had concluded its investigation. An Mcot source said the six employees were two high-ranking executives in positions equivalent to department chiefs and four other employees at the operational level.
Mcot will also set up another committee to look into taking disciplinary action against the employees who were considered to have committed serious offences, said the source. The legal officer said Mcot had appointed a fact-finding panel on Dec 20 last year to look into alleged corruption and mismanagement within the firm. The panel, consisting of 11 members, is chaired by former national police chief and former senator Pol Gen Pratin Santiprabhob. In the case of Rai Som Co, the panel uncovered an alleged graft scam related to a popular talk show hosted by Mr Sorayuth on Channel 9, Kui, Kui Khao (News Talk), the legal officer said. The legal officer yesterday also handed Huai Khwang police evidence to back Mcot's complaint. Somkid Somboon of Huai Khwang police station, who accepted the complaint, said his station will soon summon the accused to acknowledge the charges against them. Since the complaint involved such a large amount of financial damage, he needed to recommend his supervisor to set up an investigation panel to look into the case, Pol Lt-Col Somkid said. Last December, after being accused by Mcot of failing to pay on time a 176-million-baht portion of the profits from its two prime time talk shows on Channel 9, Kui, Kui Khao and Thueng Look, Thueng Khon aired from 9.30 to 10pm and from 11pm to midnight, respectively, Rai Som decided not to renew its contract with Mcot.
Mr Sorayuth and his team from Rai Som are now working for Channel 3 television, producing the Rueng Lao Chao Nee morning news talk programme.
Mcot will also set up another committee to look into taking disciplinary action against the employees who were considered to have committed serious offences, said the source. The legal officer said Mcot had appointed a fact-finding panel on Dec 20 last year to look into alleged corruption and mismanagement within the firm. The panel, consisting of 11 members, is chaired by former national police chief and former senator Pol Gen Pratin Santiprabhob. In the case of Rai Som Co, the panel uncovered an alleged graft scam related to a popular talk show hosted by Mr Sorayuth on Channel 9, Kui, Kui Khao (News Talk), the legal officer said. The legal officer yesterday also handed Huai Khwang police evidence to back Mcot's complaint. Somkid Somboon of Huai Khwang police station, who accepted the complaint, said his station will soon summon the accused to acknowledge the charges against them. Since the complaint involved such a large amount of financial damage, he needed to recommend his supervisor to set up an investigation panel to look into the case, Pol Lt-Col Somkid said. Last December, after being accused by Mcot of failing to pay on time a 176-million-baht portion of the profits from its two prime time talk shows on Channel 9, Kui, Kui Khao and Thueng Look, Thueng Khon aired from 9.30 to 10pm and from 11pm to midnight, respectively, Rai Som decided not to renew its contract with Mcot.
Mr Sorayuth and his team from Rai Som are now working for Channel 3 television, producing the Rueng Lao Chao Nee morning news talk programme.
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