Bangkok Minister Denies Involvement in 7 Billion Baht Building Scandal
Former Deputy Public Health Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) deputy leader Santi Promphat vehemently denies any involvement in the Social Security Office’s (SSO) acquisition of the SKYY9 Centre, a prominent building on Rama IX Road. The SSO’s purchase, estimated at 7 billion baht, has sparked public outrage and allegations of impropriety.
Promphat’s denial addresses inquiries regarding his son, Pattana Promphat, an executive at Watergate Pavilion Co. Watergate Pavilion purchased the SKYY9 Centre in 2017 and subsequently sold it to AGRE 101 Co., which then sold it to the SSO. The controversy centers on the substantial profit margins generated throughout these transactions, raising concerns about insider dealings and inflated valuations.
The timing of the SSO purchase, which occurred during Suchart Chomklin’s tenure as Labour Minister (now Deputy Commerce Minister and a former PPRP member), adds to the intrigue. Promphat emphatically denies any communication with Chomklin regarding the SKYY9 Centre, even during their time in the PPRP. This assertion aims to distance him from the controversial transaction and refute allegations of political orchestration.
The situation escalated when Chomklin filed a 50-million-baht defamation lawsuit against two People’s Party (PP) MPs who publicly implicated him in the SKYY9 Centre deal.
Promphat categorically denies any knowledge of the SSO’s interest in acquiring the building. He insists no clandestine political agreements were made, contradicting claims of backroom dealings. He further denies any association with AGRE 101 Co., the intermediary company that purchased the building from his son’s company for 2 billion baht before selling it to the SSO.
Promphat confirmed that the SKYY9 building was briefly considered as a potential PPRP headquarters. However, after foreign investors expressed interest, his son pursued a sale. Pattana Promphat maintains that AGRE 101 Co. was one of several interested buyers in 2019, two years after Watergate Pavilion Co. purchased the building from Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM). He asserts no involvement in the subsequent resale by AGRE 101 Co. and claims to have been unaware of the SSO’s purchase until the recent public outcry.
While acknowledging the SKYY9 Centre’s prime location and potential value, Promphat declined to comment on the 7-billion-baht purchase price or the possibility of political interference. This leaves crucial questions unanswered and fuels ongoing speculation about the transaction’s transparency and legitimacy. The controversy surrounding the SKYY9 Centre acquisition continues, casting a shadow over those involved and prompting calls for further investigation.
