NACC decide to prosecute: They are going after famous forensic scientist KY Pornthip over useless bomb and drug equipment

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

In a sign that even the rich and famous are not immune from corruption charges, Thailand's office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission are going after well known forensic scientist Pornthip Rojanasunan over the bomb and drugs scanners fiasco.

 

Pornthip is one of the most recognisable figures in Thailand with her trademark punk hair.

 

This belies the fact that she is a "khunying" - a title that places her high up in the Thai social hierarchy.

 

She is the former director of the prestigious national forensics' institute. The public love her and should she fall from grace it would be a major deal in Thailand.

 

The GT 200 and Alpha 6 bombs and drugs scanners were completely useless items of equipment procured from abroad at huge costm reported Thai Rath.

 

There have always been claims that their purchase was mired in corruption yet the prosecutors office said there was not enough evidence.

 

The NACC begs to differ.

 

They say there is ample evidence to proceed against Pornthip and others in the case for both disciplinary and criminal matters.

 

Their case concerns four contracts for the equipment that proved to be like children's toys rather than serious scanners for bombs and drugs.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-03-10

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[worgeordie]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

There have always been claims that their purchase was mired in corruption yet the prosecutors office said there was not enough evidence.

Not enough evidence ,they must be joking ,why going after her , much bigger fish involved

 

regards worgeordie

[bamnutsak]

Who'd she pi$$ off?

[kotsak]

19 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Who'd she pi$$ off?

Someone higher up the food chain?

 

[Emdog]

I like her. She's <deleted> off many.... recall the tsunami and how she insisted on taking DNA samples etc of victims and that led to feeling of stepped on toes for those gov types who just wanted to burn them. I also believe she had input on that put up job of those two Burmese workers monkey trialed into conviction for killing the couple on Koh Tao that angered the local pirates and their official henchmen

But I could be wrong...

[Artisi]

Pay-back for pi$$ing off a few well to do base-holes in her career. 

[Snig27]

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Who'd she pi$$ off?

She said the other day that Prayut was not fit to be PM, something most of the nation knows. 

[hellohello123]

She clearly didnt use it on her hair

[Patong2021]

She should have been dealt with long ago. Her forensics reputation was in tatters a decade ago when she was the center of media attention. Describing the bomb detectors as a "mistake" isn't sufficient. She has responsibility in the debacle.

[Bundooman]

20 minutes ago, hellohello123 said:

She clearly didnt use it on her hair

Surprisingly, her hair looks very nice - despite the contrasting colours. It's a very western style and it suits her and for her age, she's also quite attractive. 

It's her past that's being criticised, not her hair style.

 

By the way, hellohello123  - do you actually have any hair yourself?

Show us a photo for a laugh!

[kotsak]

17 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

She should have been dealt with long ago. Her forensics reputation was in tatters a decade ago when she was the center of media attention. Describing the bomb detectors as a "mistake" isn't sufficient. She has responsibility in the debacle.

I still remember her rationale on giving the green light for the purchase of the GT detectors. Very scientific ????

 

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT200

 

She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

[Purdey]

Quite surprised she is the only one thus far involved and not some army generals. I thought this was considered military equipment?

I presume there were soldiers who tested the equipment and reported to higher ups that it worked. How a forensic scientist was able to give approval for military equipment is hard to understand. 

 

[Artisi]

10 minutes ago, kotsak said:

I still remember her rationale on giving the green light for the purchase of the GT detectors. Very scientific ????

 

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT200

 

She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

Correct, but why was she even involved, well out of her field of expertise?

I could never understand why she commented. 

[Snig27]

11 minutes ago, Purdey said:

and not some army generals

Generals prosecuted for corrupt practices? It would never happen on Prayut's *watch*.

[transam]

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Not enough evidence ,they must be joking ,why going after her , much bigger fish involved

 

regards worgeordie

The hair doooo.  ????

[kingstonkid]

6 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Not enough evidence ,they must be joking ,why going after her , much bigger fish involved

 

regards worgeordie

Isn't this the corruption scandal that got big joke in trouble.  Now we know why they pulled him she was protected by a soon to be ex pm and an organization we can not mention.

[realfunster]

2 hours ago, kotsak said:

She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

I ran that through Google translate, the damn thing must have some code that needs fixing as it said :

 

“I am getting a very nice backhander to play along with this nationally embarrassing episode, so please stop bugging me and go away”.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

ornthip is one of the most recognisable figures in Thailand with her trademark punk hair.

 

a title that places her high up in the Thai social hierarchy.

Hairarchy might be more suitable then

[AlQaholic]

Now why would a national forensic scientist even come close to involvement in the military purchasing empty boxes with bogus metal probes sticking out of them?

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, realfunster said:

I ran that through Google translate, the damn thing must have some code that needs fixing as it said :

 

“I am getting a very nice backhander to play along with this nationally embarrassing episode, so please stop bugging me and go away”.

 

 

Not sure I agree but top marks for the parody - clever. 

 

[Tango777]

Not sure if these are the same units, but in Iraq they (the Iraqi recipients of US $) had these contraptions which were basically shoe boxes with coat hangers sticking out. And we had to wait at the check points. Check point are among the most dangerous places to be. They were bought at something like a couple hundred K each. A big scam. Around 2008. UK made I think. 

[herfiehandbag]

14 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

Now why would a national forensic scientist even come close to involvement in the military purchasing empty boxes with bogus metal probes sticking out of them?

She was, at the time, a very high profile government scientist. Quite possibly enlisted to support the purchase of the equipment by foolishly agreeing that it was a good idea.

 

It will be interested to see if she actually profited from the purchase.

 

Too clear up the scandal requires a fall guy. Once the fall has been "taken" then it is closed. Having her as the "fall guy" also "pays back" someone who has at times proved to be a bit of a thorn in various sides. Bit of a bonus?

 

Mind you, I am surprised in a way that they are resurrecting the investigation so far down the line - all the Benzes will be parked at the back of the second hand car lots by now, and there are far more pressing problems, greater threats to society and bigger fish to fry - Chinese girls buying school uniforms and having their names embroidered on them for example!

Edited March 11, 2023 by herfiehandbag

[Reigntax]

Children’s toys? Rubbish!!!

Not a single illegal golf ball entered Thailand while these great pieces of detection equipment were in use !!!

[bangon04]

but Thailand needs a celebrity influencer pathologist..... which country does not?

[Confuscious]

"Never bite the hand that is feeding you".
Confuscious

[redwood1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT200

 

Even after the efficacy of the device was debunked by Thai and foreign scientists, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, then army chief, declared, "I affirm that the device is still effective."[33] The  Post commented that, "The GT200 case was a unique scandal because the devices...seemed to fool only the people closely connected to their sale and purchase."[34]

Edited March 12, 2023 by metisdead
After pasting a reply format the text you have pasted. An easy way to do this is to click the "Paste as plain text instead" option at the bottom of the reply box.

[The Old Bull]

Ten years from now I wonderwho they pinch for todays corruption? Depends on who is in power I quess.

[hotchilli]

On 3/10/2023 at 9:19 AM, kotsak said:

Someone higher up the food chain?

 

Yep, elections are coming up and a scapegoat is urgently needed to deflect the truth.

[smew]

shady society from top to bottom 

[Andycoops]

Thailand the world hub of fakes.

 

Children's toys being used as bomb detectors operated by GI Joe's, another keystone fiasco.