Minister Sakda claims office, phone were bugged

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Education Minister Sakda Kongpetch said he believed his office and mobile phone might have been bugged in the investigation over alleged corruption involving the purchase of education material by the Office of Vocational Education (OVE).

Sakda requested the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) to send experts to examine his office where sensitive discussions with a college director about the investigation took place, and to check his mobile phone.

The Isoc team examined Sakda's room, including his desk, and found some irregular drilled holes and detected voice tapping signals in the area, but no hard evidence. Isoc staff told Sakda to change his mobile phone number but Sakda said it was difficult as his number was known to many people and changing it would disrupt his communication with others.

Sakda told the media he was told by Isoc that voice tapping can now be done without planting a device, but through a signal projector placed elsewhere, such as below his office or in the ceiling. Staff reported that someone had twice climbed into the space above the ceiling. The tapping signal, said Sakda, was especially pronounced around his desk.

A meticulous search was conducted but no tapping device was found.

New locks were installed in Sakda's office door and he vowed to continue holding discussions in the room.

Sakda is requesting Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrong-vej to approve the appointment of more corruption investigation teams that would result in the ministry having 10 such groups. He said this would lead to more thorough checks as there are 400 vocational colleges and the corruption is allegedly extensive.

He also asked the Education Minister to authorise a committee to investigate permanent secretary Sasithara Pichaicharnnaroeng, who was alleged to have been involved with some purchase irregularities prior to assuming the position.

-- The Nation 2012-08-21

I don't know this guy from Adam. I know absolutely nothing about him. But if I was a betting man, my money would be on him being corrupt. He might not think anything wrong with conducting himself like this because it's just the way things are done here.

It really wouldn't be difficult to catch someone here with their pants down and their hand in the till.

Not the most photogenic chap is he? The expression could be due to parania, confusion or being clueless. Sure hopes he gets everything sorted out so he can work on the education of the masses.

Was he crawling around on the floor looking for little white rocks?

What discussions in a public office could be so important and clandestine that the Deputy Minister is worried about someone else hearing?

Doesn't everything that happens within that office fall under public scrutiny anyway?

With curtains like that he deserves to be bugged

I would be more surprised if not most of the ministers' office phones were bugged

Sakda is requesting Education Minister Suchart Thadathamrong-vej to approve the appointment of more corruption investigation teams that would result in the ministry having 10 such groups.

These appointees will, of course, replace the corruption investigation team that located the current hotbed of graft existing within the Ministry of Education: Sakda's office.

II love this thread already..

He really shouldn't worry because his boss advocates legalisation of corruption.

Probably someone sweating bullets about now over all those calls to him mai noi.

And here I was thinking he was indicating to the police or cameraman where he stashed his wad of chewing gum.

With curtains like that he deserves to be bugged

That or his shirt

I don't know why anyone would bother bugging anything in the Education Ministry.

It is not as though there much sign of intelligent life there.

Bugging an office of the Deputy Minister of Education ? What interesting conversations could have been held in his office unless it had nothing to do with education but something about his side-business ?

What's he scared of? Fears that people might have recorded how much of the tablet bung he was getting or his monthly take from the head masters extortion racket (aka, entrance payments)

Was he crawling around on the floor looking for little white rocks?

Crack ? Or they've miniaturised what the Brits were using in Moscow.