Thailand Tobacco Monopoly focus of second US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case
By Jon Fernquest
Thailand
has been getting help in its fight against corruption from what seems
at first like an unlikely place: the US Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
The Bangkok International Film Festival corruption scandal was the first case where this US law came into effect (Read Wikipedia and recent Bangkok Post article).
Corruption with the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM), a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) looks like it will be the second case. This is the topic of today's article.
Today's article, an extract from a larger article, begins after the vocabulary.
The US government has also cracked down in recent years on the related crime of illicit trading in antiquities such as ancient pots, Buddha statues and golden Ayutthaya crowns (Read about the Roxanna Brown case of 2008 that involved antiquities from Thailand)
(Photo on right is of a poor tobacco worker on the island of Java in Indonesia around the year 1920 (Source: Wikimedia Commons). Poor tobacco farmers obviously derive no benefit from the secret corrupt dealings of some government officials.)
US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
(USFCPA) - a US law known
mostly for two things: 1. rules against the bribery of foreign
officials, and 2. accounting transparency requirements under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (See Wikipedia)
Bangkok International Film Festival - the most famous film festival in Thailand that shows both international and Thai films (See Wikipedia)
film festival - an event that takes place over a week or two in which a chosen set of special films are shown at local movie theatres (See Wikipedia)
scandal - a situation where important people behave in a shocking, dishonest and immoral way that grabs public attention (example: President Clinton's sex in the White House affair with Monica Lewinsky shocked the nation)
tobacco - an agricultural product made from the dried leaves of a special plant commonly consumed in the form of cigarettes, cigars, smoking, chewing tobacco or inhaling "snuff" (See Wikipedia on tobacco and smoking)
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) - Thailand's government-owned Tobacco monopoly run by the Finance Ministry (See history on TTM website and website)
monopoly - a company that controls the production and sale of certain goods in a country
State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) - a company that is owned and operated by the government of a country
looks like Y - it seems that event or situation Y will happen in the future
extract - a small part part of an article taken from a larger article and published separately
DSI (Department of Special Investigation) - a government agency "commissioned specifically for the surveillance, deterrence, and effective prevention of organized criminal activities that continue to jeopardize the country's economy, social order, national stability, as well as for the eradication of any illicit groups or activities that endanger international security" (Source: - DSI Website)
illicit - breaking the law
antiquities - very old (ancient) and valuable objects such as clay pots, archaeological finds and art (See Wikipedia)
obviously X - it is easy to see and understand that X is true
derive - get
derive no benefit - do not get any benefit, do not gain in any way
Bangkok International Film Festival - the most famous film festival in Thailand that shows both international and Thai films (See Wikipedia)
film festival - an event that takes place over a week or two in which a chosen set of special films are shown at local movie theatres (See Wikipedia)
scandal - a situation where important people behave in a shocking, dishonest and immoral way that grabs public attention (example: President Clinton's sex in the White House affair with Monica Lewinsky shocked the nation)
tobacco - an agricultural product made from the dried leaves of a special plant commonly consumed in the form of cigarettes, cigars, smoking, chewing tobacco or inhaling "snuff" (See Wikipedia on tobacco and smoking)
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) - Thailand's government-owned Tobacco monopoly run by the Finance Ministry (See history on TTM website and website)
monopoly - a company that controls the production and sale of certain goods in a country
State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) - a company that is owned and operated by the government of a country
looks like Y - it seems that event or situation Y will happen in the future
extract - a small part part of an article taken from a larger article and published separately
DSI (Department of Special Investigation) - a government agency "commissioned specifically for the surveillance, deterrence, and effective prevention of organized criminal activities that continue to jeopardize the country's economy, social order, national stability, as well as for the eradication of any illicit groups or activities that endanger international security" (Source: - DSI Website)
illicit - breaking the law
antiquities - very old (ancient) and valuable objects such as clay pots, archaeological finds and art (See Wikipedia)
obviously X - it is easy to see and understand that X is true
derive - get
derive no benefit - do not get any benefit, do not gain in any way
Local News
DSI eager to look into tobacco scam
Ministry asked to lay complaint about TTM9/08/2010
King-oua Laohong
A local investigation is expected into US allegations that Thailand Tobacco Monopoly staff accepted US$1.93 million (62 million baht) in bribes to buy Brazilian tobacco.
The Department of Special Investigation has asked the Finance Ministry to file a complaint against the TTM staff so it can look into the allegations.
eager
- want to do very much, very enthusiastic กระตือรือร้น
look into - look at and discover the facts of a situation or case, investigate, research
scam - a illegal or dishonest plan to get money from people กลโกง, แผนร้าย
complaint - when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
lay complaint - accuse someone of a crime and officially tell the government about it
local - in the area or country that you live in ท้องถิ่น (here: Thailand)
investigation - try to find out what happened during an event, discover the truth, the process of trying to find out all the details or facts about something การสอบสวน, การตรวจสอบหาข้อเท็จจริง
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
allegations - statements that someone had done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved, accusations ข้อกล่าวหา
staff - workers, employees พนักงาน
bribes - money given to someone to get them to do a favour for you (usually illegal or against the rules) สินบน
file - to request official action be taken against someone breaking the law ยื่นคำร้อง
look into - look at and discover the facts of a situation or case, investigate, research
scam - a illegal or dishonest plan to get money from people กลโกง, แผนร้าย
complaint - when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
lay complaint - accuse someone of a crime and officially tell the government about it
local - in the area or country that you live in ท้องถิ่น (here: Thailand)
investigation - try to find out what happened during an event, discover the truth, the process of trying to find out all the details or facts about something การสอบสวน, การตรวจสอบหาข้อเท็จจริง
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
allegations - statements that someone had done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved, accusations ข้อกล่าวหา
staff - workers, employees พนักงาน
bribes - money given to someone to get them to do a favour for you (usually illegal or against the rules) สินบน
file - to request official action be taken against someone breaking the law ยื่นคำร้อง
DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit told the Bangkok Post yesterday the Finance Ministry, which supervises the state-owned cigarette maker, should file a complaint with the DSI so it can look into the US claims.
The US embassy could also file a complaint with the DSI, he said.
The US Justice Department claims TTM staff accepted bribes of over 62 million baht from US-based companies to ensure TTM bought Brazilian-grown tobacco.
supervises - manages,
watches over some activity (oversees) to make sure that project is
successful
state - government รัฐ
embassy - a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
ensure - to make certain that something happens or is done รับรอง ให้ความมั่นใจ ให้การยืนยัน รับรอง
state - government รัฐ
embassy - a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
ensure - to make certain that something happens or is done รับรอง ให้ความมั่นใจ ให้การยืนยัน รับรอง
Sathit Limpongpan, permanent secretary for finance, said his ministry would work with the Justice Ministry to seek information from the US Justice Department and would conduct an initial investigation.
The accusations came after two US tobacco companies agreed on Friday to pay nearly $30 milllion (962 million baht) to settle charges that they bribed foreign officials, including some in Thailand, to secure lucrative overseas tobacco sales contracts.
permanent
- happening or existing for a long time or for all time in the future
ถาวร
permanent secretary - not appointed by an elected government, a person who has spent all his or her life working for the government (civil servant)
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
conduct - to do something in an organised way; to carry out
initial - happening at the beginning of a process ในเบื้องต้น
accusations - bad things that others say that you have done (but not yet proven) (same as "allegations" above)
settle - to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement แก้ปัญหา
charges - bring a criminal case against a person
settle charges - when people accused of a crime make some agreement with authorities to end the case before it goes to trial
secure - to get or achieve something ได้รับ, ทำให้ได้ผล
lucrative - profitable, earning a lot of money ที่มีกำไรงาม
contracts - grows smaller, shrinks
permanent secretary - not appointed by an elected government, a person who has spent all his or her life working for the government (civil servant)
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
conduct - to do something in an organised way; to carry out
initial - happening at the beginning of a process ในเบื้องต้น
accusations - bad things that others say that you have done (but not yet proven) (same as "allegations" above)
settle - to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement แก้ปัญหา
charges - bring a criminal case against a person
settle charges - when people accused of a crime make some agreement with authorities to end the case before it goes to trial
secure - to get or achieve something ได้รับ, ทำให้ได้ผล
lucrative - profitable, earning a lot of money ที่มีกำไรงาม
contracts - grows smaller, shrinks
The DSI chief said the case was similar to one brought against former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan for allegedly taking bribes from US film-makers.
The US Justice Department pressed charges against a Los Angeles film-making couple - Gerald Green and his wife Patricia - who were awarded a 60 million baht contract to host the Bangkok International Film Festival from 2003 to 2006.
It accused them of paying Ms Juthamas bribes to to secure the contract.
The DSI took up the case following a complaint from the TAT .
The DSI conducted a joint investigation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation into the charges against Ms Juthamas, who it accuses of accepting bribes of more than $1.7 million from the Greens.
The DSI sent its investigation to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) which notified Ms Juthamas in late May of the charges....
allegedly
- claimed to be true, but not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
pressed charges - officially accuse someone of a crime
couple - two people who are married or are involved in a romantic relationship คุ่รัก
film-making couple - a husband and wife who produced or made films, who were involved in the film industry
contract - a written (or oral) agreement that is legally binding สัญญา
host - to provide what is necessary to carry out a special event จัดงาน
pay bribes to to secure a contract - pay government officials money to do a favour (that will help the person will gain from)
joint - done with someone else ร่วมกัน
NACC (National Anti-Corruption Commission), National Counter-Corruption Commission - an independent agency of the Thai government "responsible for the ethical conduct, financially or otherwise of elected politicians and civil servants. The commission have both powers of investigation and prosecution." (From Wikipedia; see website) คณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชา
X notified Y about Z - X told person or organisation Y about issue Z
pressed charges - officially accuse someone of a crime
couple - two people who are married or are involved in a romantic relationship คุ่รัก
film-making couple - a husband and wife who produced or made films, who were involved in the film industry
contract - a written (or oral) agreement that is legally binding สัญญา
host - to provide what is necessary to carry out a special event จัดงาน
pay bribes to to secure a contract - pay government officials money to do a favour (that will help the person will gain from)
joint - done with someone else ร่วมกัน
NACC (National Anti-Corruption Commission), National Counter-Corruption Commission - an independent agency of the Thai government "responsible for the ethical conduct, financially or otherwise of elected politicians and civil servants. The commission have both powers of investigation and prosecution." (From Wikipedia; see website) คณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชา
X notified Y about Z - X told person or organisation Y about issue Z
(Source: Bangkok Post, DSI eager to look into tobacco scam, Ministry asked to lay complaint about TTM, 9/08/2010, King-oua Laohong, link)
