Former Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome was indicted on corruption charges this afternoon (Monday) in the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, after his return from Cambodia this morning.

Spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General, Prayut Petchkhun, said that Itthiphol was escorted to the court to face charges of malfeasance in office, in connection with the granting of a permit for the construction of the Water Front condominium project in Pattaya when he was the mayor of Pattaya City in 2008.

The court accepted the case and asked the former minister whether he would find a lawyer by himself, to which he said he would.

The court then postponed a pre-trial hearing on October 31st and ordered him released on 120,000 baht bail.

The former culture minister was booked by immigration police upon his arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport at about 10am from Phnom Penh. He left Thailand for Cambodia on August 30th after he was faulted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission over the unlawful granting of the construction permit.

On September 22nd, he contacted the NACC offering to surrender to stand trial.