PWO board 'in the dark' about Bt112-billion surgical gloves deal

By THE NATION

 

Wichai Phochanakit

 

Department of Internal Trade chief Wichai Phochanakit, as a member of Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) board, has said that the board had no knowledge of a contract to buy surgical gloves at a total cost of Bt112.5 billion signed by Pol Colonel Roongroj Phuthiyawat.

 

Wichai, who is the department's director-general, said that Roongroj, the director of the PWO's central administrative office, had never submitted the proposal for the board's approval.

 

The contract to buy 500 million packs of nitro gloves at a total cost of Bt112.5 billion was a free on board deal, which would be ordered periodically for two years. It also stated that the buyer had to pay a Bt2-billion advance to the seller within three days of the signing and the rest would be paid after the products were delivered.

 

“The PWO has resolved to annul the contract since Roongroj was only acting director of PWO’s central administrative office when the contract was signed and hence he had no authority to approve the disbursement of budget exceeding Bt25 million,” said Wichai. “Any disbursement of more than Bt50 million must be proposed to the PWO board for approval. The current contract violates the PWO’s regulations.”

 

On September 14, Roongroj was transferred on Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s order to the Office of Prime Minister after facing an embezzlement allegation.

 

Wichai added that the board had ordered the PWO to file a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation against Roongroj for abuse of authority, and also file a case with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to seize the Bt2-billion advance that the PWO had transferred to the manufacturer of surgical gloves. They also asked AMLO to investigate the money trail of the manufacturer for possible money laundering.

 

Kriangsak Prateepvisut, who was appointed the new director of PWO on September 10, said that the PWO would pursue legal actions against any individuals who are involved in this possible corruption.

Meanwhile, Roongroj said that he was ready to clarify details to investigation officers and insisted that the contract he had signed was legal and there was no corruption. “I only wished to increase PWO’s income by reselling the gloves to foreign buyers, which will generate billions in profit to PWO to make up for over Bt11.7 billion loss that it has suffered for many years,” he said.

 

Related Story: PWO's Bt112-bn glove deal being probed for alleged corruption

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30394809

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-19

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

What a mickey mouse government.. some colonel has the powers to sign on s*&t load of money contract and no one is the wiser, "in the dark" well, turn on the brain on for once guys...

Too expensive over the market price. 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

It also stated that the buyer had to pay a Bt2-billion advance to the seller within three days of the signing and the rest would be paid after the products were delivered

In bitcoin preferably no bouncing cheques thank you ..

2 billion depo' for gloves .! 

That's as alot of digits ..

The whole government is a perpetual conjuring act of now you see it now you don't followed by where the hell has it gone did the gloves have five fingers or just one sticky one????????

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

epartment of Internal Trade chief Wichai Phochanakit, as a member of Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) board, has said that the board had no knowledge of a contract to buy surgical gloves at a total cost of Bt112.5 billion signed by Pol Colonel Roongroj Phuthiyawat.

Unbelievable a lowly Colonel should be able to set up purchases like this without anybodies knowledge.

Just shows how corrupt this administration is, everybody doing what they with government money with nobody scrutinizing whats happening, corrupt to the core every last 1 of them.

 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

I only wished to increase PWO’s income by reselling the gloves to foreign buyers

Ah, all is forgiven, the plan was to rip off foreigners !

Obviously the Colonel should have ordered more brown envelopes if there was insufficient number to go around.  Oh well, he will have years in an inactive post to ponder his predicament.

It is very sad to see what is going on in Thailand,s upper echelon right now ????

Look on the bright side. They are hygiene conscious  and plan to use gloves for the probe.....????

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

PWO board 'in the dark' about Bt112-billion surgical gloves deal

They can join with 75% of Thais who are constantly kept in the dark about anything that goes on at a high level.

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

 

Unbelievable a lowly Colonel should be able to set up purchases like this without anybodies knowledge.

Just shows how corrupt this administration is, everybody doing what they with government money with nobody scrutinizing whats happening, corrupt to the core every last 1 of them.

And managed to get a Tb2 billion pre-payment done.....Wichai would have known about this deal....no question!

Hard to believe, but this LOS so anything is possible, especially when it comes to money that can be manipulated.

Rice schemes, submarines, military equipment etc seems to mind, not really sure why. 

Is he a serving Police Colonel, or ex-Colonel? Dual jobs or one job?

 

as Acting Director of an organisation he has full authority to do as the substantive Director would do, surely, unless specified otherwise. As not seems therefore, anything over 50 million should have been approved. Exceeding his authority.

6 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

The whole government is a perpetual conjuring act of now you see it now you don't followed by where the hell has it gone did the gloves have five fingers or just one sticky one????????

5555555 many sticky fingers i geuss they ordered gloves with 20 vingers on one side .

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

 

Ah, all is forgiven, the plan was to rip off foreigners !

You could'nt make this stuff up!

A Military Colonel issuing contracts for medical purposes,and then becomes a player in the stock market speculating with public funds on selling to foreign interests to "hopefully" make a profit for his government department that had a Bht1.7B deficit...Hmmmm....wonder where that went T.I.T.

18 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Look on the bright side. They are hygiene conscious  and plan to use gloves for the probe.....????

How will you find any bright side in this??? It is scandalous, even after his explanation, overstepped his command and give bad explanation... It is really bad. 

13 hours ago, Jimbo53 said:

You could'nt make this stuff up!

 

They do, often

The Manuel defence (Fawlty Towers )  "I know nothing", "I know nothing".

regards Worgeordie

Do any criminals go to jail, or in this case  they are only transferred?

  Shame on the Thai government if they just transfer this guy to

somewhere else.  My humble opinion is that this guy deserves

jail time.

Geezer