Report: Leicester's owner accused of £327M corruption in Thailand

King Power, the Thai company that owns Leicester City, is reportedly facing a lawsuit in Thailand.

Per the Guardian's David Conn, Oliver Holmes, and Phakarat Ryn, King Power is accused of short-changing Thailand's government over duty-free takings at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, the country's capital. The company, which purchased Leicester in 2010 for a reported fee of £39 million, allegedly failed to pay ฿14 billion (approximately £327 million) from the operation of the airport franchise, as the original grant from 2006 requires 15 percent of the income to be paid to the government. A copy of the lawsuit was seen by the Guardian.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, King Power group chairman, is the chairman at Leicester City, while his son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, is an executive for the company and the Foxes' vice-chairman.

The lawsuit was filed by Charnchai Issarasenarak, who is a deputy chairman of a government anti-corruption subcommittee. In conversation with reporters in Thailand, he said: "We ask the court to accept this lawsuit as a criminal lawsuit, and use the law to punish those who commit wrongdoings. We also ask the court to consider seizing all the ฿14.29 billion from them to the state. Nobody should ever gain (anything) from that said amount ... This case causes substantial damages to the state and is a very severe case."

Issarasenarak declared: "Filing a lawsuit against someone isn't fun. Because they can counter-sue us, but we have checked accuracy and are ready to be counter-sued. We don't do this based on a personal (issue), but it is about the nation."

Two group companies owned and run by the Srivaddhanaprabha family and a senior executive at King Power are allegedly also accused of corruption, while 14 officials employed by Airports of Thailand are named in the lawsuit, which alleges "corrupt misconduct and a failure to act with honesty and integrity."