Just a few hours earlier, Jakrapanth had posted on Facebook condemning individuals who cheated others to develop into wealthy.
“Do they think they can spend this money in hell?” Jakrapant asked.
The military has a protracted tradition of involvement in business and it’s an open secret that some officers cooperate with private businesses.
“It’s actually quite common for senior military officers to deal in real estate, especially in rural areas of Thailand,” said Paul Chambers, a policy expert at Naresuan University in northern Thailand.
The military is one among the biggest landowners in some provinces, controlling vast bases that might also be mini-cities in themselves.
“Many officers want to supplement their meager salaries with money they can easily earn through military power in real estate,” Chambers said.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha repeatedly praises the discipline of the military, which staged its last coup in 2014 and last 12 months retained power by leading a pro-army party to victory in elections that opposition parties said were geared toward cementing the military’s influence.
One influential opposition group, the Future Forward Party, openly opposes military influence in politics, advocating changes to the military-written structure, ending conscription and cutting the military budget.
The baby-faced soldier behind mass shootings in Thailand stays a mystery
The baby-faced soldier behind mass shootings in Thailand stays a mystery
Army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong said he would establish a direct line for soldiers who feel they’re being exploited by their superiors.
“The cause and reason behind this incident was the injustice he suffered from his commander and relatives,” Apirat said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He also confirmed wider reports of officers exploiting the military housing loan system and welfare programs for private gain.
“The entities and the private contractor are working together to lobby for contracts,” Apirat said
“I do know this and I would like to guarantee you that in the following three months some generals and colonels will lose their jobs,” he said.
The details of the deal that infuriated Jakrapanth are unclear, however it appears to have involved the acquisition of a house through the mother-in-law of his commander, Colonel Anantharota Krasae. Police said Jakrapanth claimed he was owed 50,000 baht ($1,600) by his mother-in-law, whose husband stated that she had already given the cash to the agent, who had not given it to the soldier. Family members didn’t reply to Reuters messages.
But lawyer Atchariya Ruangrattanapong said the dispute could have involved a bigger amount – 375,000 baht ($12,000) – and said he had been contacted by 20 other Jakrapantha unit members for the reason that shooting to complain in regards to the same scheme.
“In addition to this group, I was informed that hundreds of other soldiers were defrauded in a similar situation,” Atchariya said.
Those with higher ranks have a bonus in doing business on this closed system.
Defense Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit confirmed reports of officers taking advantage of sweetheart deals, but said the issue was widespread in society.
“All of this is an ongoing problem facing not only the army but also the government,” Kongcheep said.
But the military lacks transparency beyond that of other institutions, making the system easier to use, said Anusorn Unno, a lecturer at Thammasat University.
“The army is like a closed kingdom,” Anusorn said.
“People with advanced degrees have an advantage in doing business in this closed system.”
The post office in Bangkok said in an editorial that questionable personal contracts were “the tip of the iceberg” and argued that the military budget must be subject to independent audits quite than internal audits set by the last ruling junta.
“By not allowing broader external audits, the military risks conducting increasingly questionable operations.”
