Watches, watches and more watches

As a new year gift, the blocking of “opposition” media by the junta seems to have deepened. At least PPT is seeing very heavy attention. This sometimes happens when the regime and its members are getting a lot of (negative) attention.

While the junta has sought to bury the luxury watch bling stories regarding General Prawit Wongsuwan, this is proving especially challenging, not least because the Deputy Dictator’s love of very expensive watches has proven a feast for investigating journalists who have found photos of one less than a dozen watches. Just over a week ago there were nine luxury watches and several diamond rings.

Iconoclast and former lese majeste victim Akechai Hongkangwarn is one of the first to taunt the corrupt general in public.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post reports that the Facebook page CSI LA has been adding luxury watches in Prawit’s large collection.

The Post states that Prawit’s 11 watches, according to CSI LA are:

1. Richard Mille RM 029 with prices starting from 2.5 million baht

2. Richard Mille RM 30 priced at least 2.8 million baht

3. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ice Blue Dial Platinum worth about 1.8 million baht

4. Patek Philippe 5960/1A worth some 1.5 million baht

5. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Automatic Blue Dial estimated at 800,000 baht

6. Rolex 116655BKSRS worth about 700,000 baht

7. Patek Phillippe 3970 with prices starting at 2.5 million baht

8. Patek Phillippe 5960P worth at least 1.9 million baht

9. Rolex Pro Hunter Deepsea Green worth about 800,000 baht

10. Richard Mille RM010 priced from 2.4 million baht

11. Rolex Rolex Cosmograph Daytona worth about 554,000 baht

For a career military leader who has held a few cabinet positions, having watches worth more than 18 million baht is certainly unusual. To have failed to declare them is criminal.