Thai PM urges media not to put pressure on deputy PM over luxury accessories affair

BANGKOK, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday asked the media not to keep questioning Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on his luxury watch and diamond ring.

"I don't need to give any moral support to the deputy prime minister as he's tough enough to go through the issue," said Prayut after a cabinet meeting.

He urged the media not to put too much pressure on Prawit as legal procedures have been proceeded. He believed that his deputy prime minister is not engaged in corrupt practices.

The deputy prime minister has come under the media spotlight after a picture showing he raised his right hand on which he wore a Richard Mille watch and diamond ring while shielding his eyes from the sun went viral.

The items were reportedly not declared. The value of the items were not clear, but local media speculates they could be worth tens of thousands of U.S. dollars.

Some local reports said that Prawit claimed that he inherited the diamond ring from his mother and the watch was borrowed from a businessman friend.

Reports also said Prawit would submit an explanation on his luxury items to the National Anti-Corruption Commission within 30 days.

So far Prawit has refused to talk about the issue in public.

The 72-year-old deputy prime minister is also the country's defense minister. Enditem