NACC to charge Suthep of collusion over police-station project

[snoop1130]

NACC to charge Suthep of collusion over police-station project

By The Nation

 

Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban (right) and former acting National Police chief Pol General Prateep Tanprasert (left) are facing charges over the alleged collusion in relation to the construction of 396 new police stations.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Tuesday resolved to officially charge former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban for alleged collusion in relation to the construction of 396 new police stations nationwide, and will pass the case on to the Office of the Attorney General to indict the veteran politician for a criminal offence.

 

The NACC unanimously resolved that both Suthep and former acting National Police chief Pol General Prateep Tanprasert had committed a criminal offence by abusing their powers. Prateep will also be held accountable for a serious breach of discipline. 

 

As for the committee that organised the bid for the project, NACC resolved that Pol Maj-General Sajja Khotchahiran and Pol Lt-Colonel Suriya Jaengsuwan had violated the Anti-Collusion Act, wrongfully exercised their functions and conducted serious disciplinary breaches, while three police officers of colonel rank will be held accountable for non-severe disciplinary breaches. 

 

As for the project’s contractor, PCC Development and Construction Co, the NACC resolved that two executives had violated the anti-collusion law and related offences, though the commission dismissed allegations against then-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, then-police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong, then-police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaw, then-logistics commissioner Pol Lt-General Teerayuth Kittiwat and then-logistics commissioner Pol Lt-General Suporn Phanseu.

 

This resolution is in line with the conclusion drawn last month by an NACC sub-committee to charge Suthep, Prateep and members of the police committee in charge of approving the project for bidding collusion.

 

The project aimed to build 396 new police stations nationwide, but the project winner later abandoned the project, causing many police officers to not have any premises to work from. The Royal Thai Police cancelled the project in April 2013 and filed a lawsuit against PCC Development and Construction Co demanding Bt1.728 billion in compensation. The opposition then attacked Suthep over the scandal, which made the headlines and prompted the NACC to launch an investigation. 

 

The NACC probe found that Suthep had approved the project put forward by Prateep without consulting the Cabinet on November 18, 2009. This move cancelled an earlier Cabinet-approved method of granting multiple contracts based on region, and shifted it to the method of merging regional contracts into one national project. This unauthorised approval by Suthep led to the project being abandoned half way, which is why he is facing collusion charges. 

 

Suthep has testified to the NACC sub-panel thrice protesting his innocence all along.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374362

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-06

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[londonthai]

innocent, as charged. Took only 10 years, shortly there won't be witnesses, followed by statute of limitations

[Reigntax]

The mad monk wont face a single day behind bars because his mate and co conspirator is running the country.

Another smoke and mirrors show to give some weak appearance that a legal system exists.

[seajae]

couldnt happen to a more deserving person, would be great if they actually took him financially as well. The man is a crook as if his family, about time they went after him

[sammieuk1]

Another NACC attack by the toothless tiger in justification of their existence and divvy up rights????

[Chang_paarp]

I wonder which action by Suthep caused his fall from the ranks of the untouchables? Either way I hope this has a quick result.

[YetAnother]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Tuesday resolved to officially charge former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban for alleged collusion in relation to the construction of 396 new police stations nationwide,

it's about tme, that guy has belonged behind bars for a long time

[Matzzon]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Suthep has testified to the NACC sub-panel thrice protesting his innocence all along.

Another one that still ain´t gotten past step 1 on the 12-step ladder.

[BobBKK]

He's such a smug so and so. Waste of oxygen. 

[mikebell]

Look at the number of police officers involved!  And what on earth are

'non-severe disciplinary breaches.''  So some of the corrupt will be let off with a good talking to?

Thailand will continue to be a banana republic until they disband the RTP and the army.

[graemeaylward]

After charging, another few years before a court hearing, which will probably take another few years before reaching a verdict, if guilty, out on bail for the long round of appeals! Maybe 2030 or later before a binding sentence is achieved! By that time, the old fraudster and instigator of civil unrest will probably have " popped his clogs" and all the millions he has stashed away will have been for naught!


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[Chrisswe]

WILL NEVER HAPPENED IF YOU KNOW WHO PROTECT HIM !!!!!!

[Benmart]

An independent audit of the assets of all officials by a non-Thai company, would uncover some very interesting information. Sadly, it is unlikely that the top wants to reveal the layers of corruption, as it could shake the sources of remittances.

[GinBoy2]

Anyone who knows anything about Thailand, understands this will ultimately go nowhere.

 

This vile man is as corrupt as they all are, but so ingrained with them all. This is just a show to keep the masses 'thinking' that there might be some real justice, silly them!

 

This guy will happily die in his bed in 20 years time or so, never having spent a day in jail, and his funeral will be attended by all the great and good of the Thai elite

[Artisi]

I can see this going along way over a long long time. 

[geoffbezoz]

8 hours ago, mikebell said:

Look at the number of police officers involved!  And what on earth are

'non-severe disciplinary breaches.''  So some of the corrupt will be let off with a good talking to?

Thailand will continue to be a banana republic until they disband the RTP and the army.

And others

[thequietman]

18 hours ago, londonthai said:

innocent, as charged. Took only 10 years, shortly there won't be witnesses, followed by statute of limitations

Apparently, a big order of these put in around his area. Can't think why for the life of me. ????

 

"sleeping with the fishes."

[thequietman]

8 hours ago, mikebell said:

Look at the number of police officers involved!  And what on earth are

'non-severe disciplinary breaches.''  So some of the corrupt will be let off with a good talking to?

Thailand will continue to be a banana republic until they disband the RTP and the army.

This is a 'non-severe Disciplinary procedure' in Thailand. ????

[Grossman]

What's with this sudden NACC activity against the "good people"? Are they seriously trying to make the NACC somehow credible with this crap show? This should have happened ages ago and of course none of these "good people" will ever spend any time in the jail, where they belong.

 

Did I miss something here? Is there some case brewing against someone prominent (in addition to Phanom that is) from the wrong side of the political spectrum and the incoming fast tracked guilty verdict needs to be balanced with some make believe activity against the goodies?

 

Well, this regime has succeeded in something.. Turning me into a god d*mn pessimist.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, Benmart said:

Sadly, it is unlikely that the top wants to reveal the layers of corruption

Five years of Prayut's absolute power added further layers.

When he invoked Article 44 for many of the infrastructure projects and the EEC, one of the effects was to bypass the Anti-Collusion Act. Thus, we may have seen how a food distributor like CP becomes a key contractor in the construction of high speed rail systems. Or how Chinese state-owned companies become primary contractors for Chinese-financed Thai projects. 

The NLA and/or the NACC should "peel back the onion" for potential corruption for some of Prayut's signature infrastructure projects to assure there was no misuse or appropriation of public funds. Frankly, the potential for glaring "irregularities" in such projects should be easily discernible.

[chama]

Sounds like someone has offended the NACC and they are trying to push back. Seems like a dangerous game but it may be a fun one to watch develop. The individuals they have decided to go after have a lot of detractors but powerful backers (who may be the intended recipient of the messages being sent) which should make this very entertaining. 

[The Old Bull]

19 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Anyone who knows anything about Thailand, understands this will ultimately go nowhere.

 

This vile man is as corrupt as they all are, but so ingrained with them all. This is just a show to keep the masses 'thinking' that there might be some real justice, silly them!

 

This guy will happily die in his bed in 20 years time or so, never having spent a day in jail, and his funeral will be attended by all the great and good of the Thai elite

Could not have said it better!

[Eric Loh]

Suthep charged, bombs and men from south arrested. Maybe just me thinking and a coincidence.