Lamppostgate! : Regulators to investigate corruption scandal estimated at ONE BILLION baht

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is moving the investigation in the scandal becoming known as "Lamppostgate" nationwide. 

 

Local offices of the NACC will be investigating all cases brought to the commission's attention by the media and public in every province, reported Daily News.

 

The scandal involves putting sculpted figures - often at high cost - onto lampposts on stretches of roads. 

 

File photo for reference only

 

These are meant to highlight a symbol of the area for civic pride - but many people are suggesting that they are just another way for corrupt officials to pocket public funds.

 

So far top of the NACC list for regional office investigation is the Ratchathewa area of Samut Prakan east of the Thai capital Bangkok. 

 

Here is is alleged that one billion baht was spent on lampposts bearing a figure of a "kinaree" - a mythical nymph like creature of Thai legend. 

 

File photo

 

Worawit Sukbun told the media that this in particular was of public interest and evidence gathering was underway to determine if the procedure was correct or even worth the money spent.

 

But he conceded that the scandal extended far and wide and that all regional offices of the NACC had been tasked with investigating lampposts on their patch. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-15

 

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[RotBenz8888]

They're ugly as hell, but won't be long before they're all mowed down by local drunk drivers. 

[Phuketshrew]

I'm sure all the soi dogs are really happy with their VIP toilets ????

[RichardColeman]

I suppose we should be glad the road was not in an area that had had no rain and needed giant phalluses added to the posts for rainfall !

Edited June 15, 2021 by RichardColeman

[MasterBaker]

he's got a very good taste judging by the stickers on his laptop, so no wonder officials choose those lamppost designs

[Sydebolle]

Pattanakarn Road in Pattaya, running parallel to the railway road on the Dark Side, also known as Thung Klom-Tan Man Road, has been blessed with those ugly lamp posts years ago. 

Next to existing posts and functioning lamps all that proof of zero taste at extremely overpriced tags, the Nong Prue municipality had installed dozens of those symbols of outright corruption. 

Same could be seen along the entire North Pattaya road, linking Sukhumvit road with the round-about next to the Dusit hotel. The posts, positioned in the middle between the lines in opposite direction, they had metal elements which got hit by a couple of motorbike drivers. Lateron those metal elements were turned into the direction of driving. 

Do not tell me, that this came as a surprise; back in 2015 this corruption visibility in its uglification of an ugly city - while all those tax payers stood there and said not a single word! It is their money they burn - not mine! 

[smedly]

look at the state of the sidewalk

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

he's got a very good taste judging by the stickers on his laptop, so no wonder officials choose those lamppost designs

He pinched Harry Potter's notebook PC?

[Nsp64]

Look at those stickers on hos computer!

Absolute child. He thinks it makes him look fun and loveable.

Went to the hospital a few weeks ago and the doctor wrote my notes with a hello kitty pen.

Grow up thai officials.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The scandal involves putting sculpted figures - often at high cost - onto lampposts on stretches of roads. 

And Prayut thought he masterminded the "lets go halves scheme"... it's been going on for years.

[Anant72]

Let's hope that these obvious cases of arrant corruption will be prosecuted the full. We count on this corruption-busting PM: wasn't that the reason for the coup?

[Saraburi121]

In the last three months a few hundred light poles have been placed in our rural area along the main road (no cool designs though).  I would understand putting up lights by the road that go through villages but a good many of them are just on straight stretches of road through cassava and cow fields?  Seems like a waste of money, that is why you have headlights for night.   Wife and I joke the cows need to see at night to poop or someone in power has a light post factory.  Just think of the electricity they burn.

[holy cow cm]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And Prayut thought he masterminded the "lets go halves scheme"... it's been going on for years.

Ouch! 

[dinsdale]

The corrupt will judge the corrupt. Every Thai knows this country is bent from top to bottom.

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, Saraburi121 said:

In the last three months a few hundred light poles have been placed in our rural area along the main road (no cool designs though).  I would understand putting up lights by the road that go through villages but a good many of them are just on straight stretches of road through cassava and cow fields?  Seems like a waste of money, that is why you have headlights for night.   Wife and I joke the cows need to see at night to poop or someone in power has a light post factory.  Just think of the electricity they burn.

It's all about the next rigged election. Thais see straight through this B##S and every time I ask a Thai if they like Prayut the answer is always .... let's just say in the negative. Fair to say I don't hang out with the hi-so crowd. Roads etc. being built everywhere and you can guarantee plenty of kickbacks to the contractors when the people who keep this country going are really struggling. Unfortunately there is only one outcome when the corrupt 'investigate' the corrupt.

 

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, Saraburi121 said:

In the last three months a few hundred light poles have been placed in our rural area along the main road (no cool designs though).  I would understand putting up lights by the road that go through villages but a good many of them are just on straight stretches of road through cassava and cow fields?  Seems like a waste of money, that is why you have headlights for night.   Wife and I joke the cows need to see at night to poop or someone in power has a light post factory.  Just think of the electricity they burn.

At least it sounds like they work. On a busy road in Chalong, Phuket, they recently built a central reservation with lamposts in the middle with two branches to light each side of the road. Sound fine until night arrives when you see that half of the lights don't work, those that do work have dull orange lights that provide minimal light, just one or two have decent white lights, which in itself is odd.

 

And it's be like this for a couple of months; the job's finished...but it isn't and probably never will be as the budget will have been dispersed in the appropriate manner.

[tomacht8]

What would such a lighted dirt road cost the taxpayer?

[whaleboneman]

10 hours ago, smedly said:

look at the state of the sidewalk

The "artwork" above is to distract you from the reality below.

[Redline]

Someone <deleted> someone "more important" off

[mtls2005]

I know this one looks photoshopped but it is real...