25 City Officials in Bangkok Involved in Corruption Scandal

[snoop1130]

 

An investigation by Bangkok's Anti-Corruption Center recently uncovered corruption involving 25 city officials. These officials were found to have participated in seven inflated projects for buying gym equipment.

 

Nathapong Disayabutra, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and head of the city’s anti-corruption task force, shared the investigation's findings on Tuesday.

 

The month-long investigation revealed that in these projects, the bought gym equipment was significantly pricier compared to past purchases, surpassing the total cost, including operational expenses.

 

The terms of reference for these initiatives were found to limit competitive bidding, which is restrictive, and the equipment specifications were unnecessarily high.

 

As a result, twenty-five officials who worked on the projects are now being investigated, with one having already quit. Their main roles involved planning the project, considering the budget, and conducting procurement processes. A thorough follow-up investigation will be done.

 

 

While the BMA lacks the authority to sue private companies involved in bidding, if any wrongdoing is discovered, criminal charges can be pursued under the anti-bid rigging law.

 

Following this, the city's civil service commission will review the findings in detail and suggest establishing a disciplinary committee to investigate the issue within 120 days. If criminal actions are verified, the case will be transferred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

 

Since the costs were found to be inflated, Bangkok has incurred a financial loss. A committee will be set up to explore civil liability and try to recover damages.

 

Bangkok's Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, expressed a strong stand against corruption, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. Since the city's anti-corruption task force was founded in 2022, it has penalized 29 officials for corruption-related violations.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-07-30

 

 

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[MartinBangkok]

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, 29 officials penalized? How about sacking everybody, including yourself, and let a Farang build up Bangkok from the ground?

Edited July 30 by MartinBangkok

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok's Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, expressed a strong stand against corruption, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. Since the city's anti-corruption task force was founded in 2022, it has penalized 29 officials for corruption-related violations

I guess the zero tolerance memo didn't convince everyone.?

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, 29 officials penalized? How about sacking everybody, including yourself, and let a Farang build up Bangkok from the ground?

Wash you mouth out with soap.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Looks like the MFP reps recent question to the house pointing out the lack of response to the invesigation has produced a result. Probably low-ranking scapegoats.

[Gsxrnz]

A strike rate of 22 convictions since 2022 and now these 25. 

 

I bet there are 47 officials who regret failing to follow the 1/3 for me and 2/3 up the chain rule.

[Peterphuket]

25 city officials, we call that a drop in the ocean, but it's a start, you have to stay optimistic, don't you?

[retarius]

Corruption is vile. They need to make examples of these 25. Not moving them to different paid positions, throw them out or throw them in jail. 

[Presnock]

12 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, 29 officials penalized? How about sacking everybody, including yourself, and let a Farang build up Bangkok from the ground?

Well, I am an American and I notice my elected officiasl and their minions are constantly violating their own ethics and anti corruption laws and regulations.  I have lived and worked around the world and to me it seems politicians all come from the same mold.  They are elected and then the first thing that they learn is how rich they can become just by bending the rules a tad and then the next thing that they notice is how much they will need to insure winning the NEXT election.  The last thing that they seem to be concerned with is good governance for the citizens that elected them.  They grab folks from among the citizenary that helped them get elected and they make them rich too. It is a repeating story every election it seems to me.  I have witnessed this type of corruption and greed for over 70 years since I really had a brain that could think at all.  Locally, I began living here for longer periods in the early 70's, lived and worked in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and one in central America and didn't change my opinion of elected officials anywhere.  I have noticed even congress or parliaments depending on what they are called in different countries being unable to even pass an anti-corruption law for politicians.  Sorry class of people we have running our governments...who is to blame?  John Q Public, the voters - swayed by a pretty face I guess.  Have a good day.

[JimHuaHin]

Only 25?  What about the other thousands?

[MalcolmB]

12 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

and let a Farang build up Bangkok from the ground?

And end up with a boring, lifeless, expensive city with red tape.

 

If you like farang cities there are plenty to choose from and direct flights to many of the from Suwarnaphumi and Don Mueang.

[herfiehandbag]

Why was the BMA buying gym equipment?

 

In itself a little suspect!

[watchcat]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

An investigation by Bangkok's Anti-Corruption Center recently uncovered corruption involving 25 city officials. These officials were found to have participated in seven inflated projects for buying gym equipment.

 

Only 25, this must be a joke, rikght?

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

And end up with a boring, lifeless, expensive city with red tape.

And still plenty of corruption.

[Will B Good]

25?

 

Few zeros missing there I fancy.