UPDATE: Wanted Former Pattaya Mayor Reportedly Flees Thailand to Evade Arrest in Waterfront Condo Case

Pattaya —

Reports emerged today, September 6th, that Mr. Itthiphol Khunpluem, the former mayor of Pattaya and former Thai Minister of Culture, has reportedly absconded Thailand for Cambodia by air, after he was wanted for alleged malfeasance involving his issuance of an improper construction permit to the Waterfront condo project.

First our previous story:

The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases has issued an arrest warrant for the former Pattaya mayor, Itthiphol Khunpluem, in relation to his allegedly improper issuance of a building construction permit to construct the controversial Waterfront building near Pattaya Beach.

Now for our update:

Pol. Maj. Gen. Chomchawin Punatananon, the Deputy Commander of the Chonburi Provincial Police, told Thai media today that he has received information, which indicated that Mr. Itthiphol has left Thailand on the morning of August 30th, 2023, after attending a meeting, and has not returned since.

He reportedly left the country on Cambodia Airways flight KR0702 and was headed to Phnom Penh.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Chomchawin stated that police are expanding an investigation to find Mr. Itthiphol as well as other accused.

The situation involves the highly controversial eyesore of the Waterfront Condo, which we covered extensively in the past here.

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The Pattaya News, owned by our parent company TPN media.