|
|
 |
COUPLE ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF BRIBING THAI OFFICIALS
Wednesday, December 19 2007
|
|
The FBI has arrested Gerald and Pat Green on charges of violating the corrupt practices act by bribing officials in Thailand as part of their efforts to secure a deal to manage the Bangkok Film Festival. According to the complaint, the Greens paid $1.7 million in the form of kickbacks to an unnamed Thai official, who is believed to be Juthamas Siriwan, who served as the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand between 2003 and 2006, when the Greens operated the festival under their Film Festival Management company. Juthamas, who had been running for parliament in next week's elections, pulled out of the contest today (Wednesday) following word of the arrests, although she denied any involvement in the alleged bribery. The indictment charges that the bribe money was transferred to bank accounts in Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Isle of Jersey, several of which were held by the daughter of the TAT official.
|
CONTROVERSIAL ANIMATED FILM TO BE FRANCE'S OSCAR ENTRY
Tuesday, September 18 2007
The
award-winning
animated
film
Persepolis,
which
tells
the
story
of
an
Iranian
girl
growing
up
at
the
time
of
the
Islamic
revolution,
has
been
selected
as
France's
entry
in
the
2008
Oscars
for
best
foreign-language
film.
The
film
took
the
Jury
Prize
at
the
Cannes
Film
Festival
this
year
and
has
been
selected
to
close
the
New
York
Film
Festival
next
month.
Nevertheless,
it
has
been
denounced
by
Iranian
officials,
who
demanded
that
it
be
(more)
ARGENTINEAN FILM WINS TOP AWARD AT BANGKOK FILM FESTIVAL
Monday, July 30 2007
The
Argentinean
film
XXY
was
awarded
the
Bangkok
Film
Festival's
top
prize,
the
Golden
Kinnaree,
Saturday
night.
The
jury
prize
was
won
by
China's
Lost
in
Beijing,
while
James
Lee's
Before
We
Fall
in
Love
Again
won
a
separate
all-Asian
competition.
Attendance
at
the
Friday
and
Saturday
screenings
at
the
Central
World
multiplex
rose,
and
seminars
conducted
on
such
issues
as
piracy
and
censorship
were
well
attended
despite
remarks
by
panelists
that
seemed
so
pedantic
(more)
|
 |
|
|