Thailand’s coup leader has disclosed that he and his two wives have assets totaling 94 million baht (US $3 million), a counter-corruption agency reported.
Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the first Muslim to be the country’s army commander, led the coup that toppled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year.
Sonthi was required to disclose his assets after he began a career in politics last month, when he took a deputy prime minister post.
Sonthi declared assets worth 38.7 million baht ($1.3 million), according to a statement issued by the National Counter Corruption Commission.
Sonthi’s first wife, Sukanya, has assets worth 14 million baht ($452,690), the statement said. His second wife, Piyada, declared assets of 42 million baht ($1.4 million).
Polygamy is technically illegal in Thailand, but many men have more than one wife. Sonthi’s marriages to Sukanya and Piyada are both reportedly backed by certificates. Sonthi has avoided publicly commenting on the issue.
Meanwhile, military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his wife declared assets totaling 91 million baht ($3.9 million), according to the anti-corruption agency’s statement.
Sonthi led the coup that overthrew Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon-turned-politician, following months of public protests accusing Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power.
The Asset Examination Commission, an anti-graft agency established by the coup leaders, has been assigned to investigate corruption charges against Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile in London.
The examination commission has frozen about $2.1 billion in assets belonging to Thaksin, his wife and other members of their family, pending the outcome of court cases related to charges of corruption and abuse of power.
Thaksin has denied any wrongdoing. He accuses the military-appointed government that succeeded him of persecuting him for political reasons.