DSI Urged To Investigate Previous Government's 'Strong Thailand' Scheme

[webfact]

DSI urged to investigate Thai Khemkhaeng scheme

PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI,

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Suranand Vejjajiva, the prime minister's secretary-general, has called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to look into the alleged irregularities involving the previous government's Thai Khemkhaeng (Strong Thailand) project.

DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said yesterday that his agency had received Suranand's request for them to investigate the project's second stage, especially in relation to the Bt5 billion allocated to the Education Ministry's Vocational Education Commission. The Prime Minister's Office had allegedly received complaints that spending of this fund "lacked transparency", the DSI chief explained.

Tarit said initial investigation had found signs of possible criminal violation, but the DSI would have to refer this case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) because it was beyond his agency's authority.

A Justice Ministry fact-finding committee, led by permanent secretary Kittipong Kitayarak, found some grounds to believe that there were irregularities involving purchase plans for vocational colleges under the project, a ministry source said yesterday.

It was found that teaching aids and tools had been bought for the colleges regardless of whether they needed them or not, the source said. In addition, many of the purchased items were found to be inferior to the specifications stated in the terms of reference. For instance, some items were produced in Thailand and other Asian countries, instead of the United States, and that some were made of brass instead of gold as stated in the ToR, the source said.

Meanwhile, the Rural Doctors Society is planning to hold a gathering of doctors, nurses and patients outside the Public Heath Ministry on Monday to underline the worsening corruption problem in relation to the ministry.

Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat, the society's president, said yesterday that the participants would light candles during the gathering as a symbolic gesture to "drive away the darkness that is dominating the ministry". He said his group would also hold a press conference to expose the "movement of hungry tigers" making personal gains from the ministry's purchase projects for hospitals across the country, particularly those whose medical equipment was damaged by last year's floods.

The rural doctors would also submit evidence that they have gathered to the NACC, the Office of the Auditor-General and the Ombudsman's Office. "We will ask the agencies to speed up their investigation so those who take advantage of state budgets for poor people and those affected by the floods will be punished," Kriangsak said.

A medical source in Khon Kaen said yesterday that unnamed "powerful figures in the Public Health Ministry" have instructed local officials to find out if Kriangsak, who is director of Chumpae Hospital in the Northeast, has done anything that could be regarded as a violation of the code of discipline. If he is found to have failed in strictly following the code, he could be transferred to an inactive post, the source said.

The Rural Doctors Society has also been asked to stop exposing irregularities in the ministry, according to the source.

-- The Nation 2012-06-29

[MengWan]

"For instance, some items were produced in Thailand and other Asian countries, instead of the United States"

My God, they should be hanged for that ! (or extradited to the US ?)

Edited June 29, 2012 by MengWan

[Moruya]

"some were made of brass instead of gold as stated in the ToR"

<deleted>?

I can't think of too many cases where gold would be used as a material outside the electronics industry. Possibly high end audio.

Maybe Suchart tried pawning his monkey?

[E1717007]

the same can be said to the "promised tablet" for school.

[steveyinasia]

The Prime Minister's Office had allegedly received complaints that spending of this fund "lacked transparency", the DSI chief explained.

If the DSI had to investigate every project in Thailand that lacked transparency, they would not have time to investigate anything else and would need to increase their staff by thousands.

[chotthee]

Now, there is a chance we can know how much DEM and/or Mark took while in office.

[robertson468]

So the knee jerk reaction is, "EVERYONE NOBBLE THE WHISTLE BLOWER!" Rather than find out what he has discovered, carry out a full investigation and take it to it's legal conclusion. And by the way, all you Rural Doctors, just get on with your work and stop telling stories out of school - okay? Funny old Thailand.

[h90]

"For instance, some items were produced in Thailand and other Asian countries, instead of the United States"

My God, they should be hanged for that ! (or extradited to the US ?)

Extradited to the USA is an too hard punishment. I got told the torture people there by showing them videos of Hillary Clinton.

[animatic]

Half revenge at the last government,

Half try and get it back to reassign to your friends pockets.

Of course as with any governments project budgets spread around all provinces,

the usual sharks, snakes and tigers are trying to sift off a share any way the can.

With the culture of cradle to grave corruption and mai bpen rai, this isn't a surprise.