Government Probes Computer Scandal

Government probes computer scandal

BANGKOK: – The government’s corruption busters, the National

Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) are currently probing allegations of

misconduct involving the procurement of computers for the health department.

The investigation is into the controversial bidding process for a nine

hundred million baht computer system for the health ministry, the Health

Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan told journalists on Sunday.

The deal was later scrapped and the permanent secretary of the health ministry, Dr Vallop Thaineua, transferred.

Mrs. Sudarat said the investigation would soon reveal the facts behind the

whole controversy and the public would know whether there had been any

malpractice involved.

The health minister said she had never ordered the cancellation of the bidding process. But it was a committee, whose aim is to protect the public, which cancelled the contract, she said.

Dr. Vallop’s abrupt transfer had made her unhappy, said Mrs Sudarat. And the situation worsened after he told the public that the planned purchase of computers was clouded with corruption.

This misled the public, Mrs Sudarat said. It made it look as though she was

involved in the corrupt scheme.

The opposition Democrats have said there were no irregularities in the bidding process and there were no grounds to cancel the bidding process.

Mrs. Sudarat told journalists that there was noting wrong with the terms of

reference (TOR) for the bidding. But it was now necessary to see whether the

purchase of these computers was in the national interest, she said.

-- TNA 2004-08-01