Nacc Finds Proof Of Graft In Mcot Deal

[webfact]

NACC finds proof of graft in MCOT deal

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A subcommittee of the national anti-graft agency has discovered that some people involved in a controversial deal between a TV production firm and state-run media enterprise MCOT, had committed wrongdoing causing the state to lose more than Bt130 million in advertising revenue.

Chief of the subcommittee, Pakdee Pothisiri, also member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said yesterday that his panel would forward its investigation findings to the agency's board of commissioners to make a final decision on the case.

However, he declined to identify the persons found to have committed wrongdoing, a report on the Isra News Agency website (www.isranews.org) said.

The graft-buster also refused to confirm whether his panel's findings were similar to those of a fact-finding team set up by MCOT in 2007, which was led by former senator Pratin Santiprapop.

Pratin's panel had concluded that 11 people - seven MCOT employees and four Raisom Co executives - as well as the firm itself should be held responsible for criminal, civil and disciplinary offences.

Raisom, which produces news-oriented and current-affairs shows for Channel 3, is majority-owned by media personality Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda - one of the four executives found to be responsible for the wrongdoing.

The panel had found that one MCOT employee who took care of Raisom's advertisement time slot had accepted a bribe, as well as falsified and destroyed important documents. Another MCOT employee was accused of being an accomplice.

The case stems from a police complaint filed by MCOT in 2007, in which it accused its two employees of malfeasance in a revenue-sharing deal with Raisom that resulted in a loss of Bt138.79 million from advertisement revenue. Later that year, the police submitted its investigation report to the NACC.

Pakdee said his panel was preparing a report on its findings to be submitted to NACC commissioners for a final decision. When asked when the report would be submitted, he said: "It won't be too long." Pakdee is one of NACC's nine commissioners.

-- The Nation 2012-09-13

[GentlemanJim]

NIce

But whilst NACC busy themselves with what are relatively trivial amounts of money, right from under their noses, there are people busy helping themselves to a lions share of 120 Billion ! Perhaps a shift in investigative priorities may be required.

[Thai at Heart]

I thought the headline said "Most deals".

[rkidlad]

Suspended sentences and inactive posts all round?

[jerrysteve]

WOW I am very very very UPSET they found GRAFT in MCOT DEAL.

I bet everyone is VERY Suprised by that !

I can't believe the Government would allow anyone to get Away With Graft besides Themselves...

Would that be the same as Finding Rats in your own BASEMENT!

Edited September 13, 2012 by jerrysteve

[arthurboy]

Will K. Sorrayuth report this on any of his Channel 3 shows? Answers on a postcard please.

[clockman]

Can anybody tell me, what is a inactive post? and is this punishment?

[Pib]

I wonder what Thailand's yearly GDP growth would be with corruption/graft amounts counted? 20% GDP maybe....would make China's GDP growth look small in comparison.

[whybother]

I wonder what Thailand's yearly GDP growth would be with corruption/graft amounts counted? 20% GDP maybe....would make China's GDP growth look small in comparison.

.. until you start including China's corruption/graft amounts.

[Thrilla]

Can anybody tell me, what is a inactive post? and is this punishment?

You're pushed aside to a desk job and left out of the 'tea money' food chain

[Bagwan]

So one of the top guys is a 'media personality'? Hmmm. I recall the UK newspapers tagging the Kray brothers as 'well known sportsmen' until the Fuzz got off their bums and did something about them. Euphorisms seem the name of the game and reading between the lines a necessary precaution. With a bit more coverage will he metamorphose into 'a celebrity'?

[AleG]

Huh, 2007?

A mere 5 years to get to the point when something may or not may be done about... someone that may or not be named.

I said before, the Thai wheels of justice grind slow, but they don´t grind worth a dam_n.

[robertson468]

Can anybody tell me, what is a inactive post? and is this punishment?

You're pushed aside to a desk job and left out of the 'tea money' food chain

But you still get paid and your pension when you retire - good innit!!?

[jerrysteve]

RATS do make strange Bedfellows!! What is a world without Graft anyway!!

Weeds grow every where. This icon is for animal rights activists!!!!

[asiawatcher]

The point exactly - complaint made in 2007 - so 5 years to act on it? With the speed of a startled gazelle, the NACC mobilised in to blindingly fast action... to investigate the perpetrators.

[surangw]

Put an end to graft and corruption and the economy will grind to a halt.

[rkidlad]

Put an end to graft and corruption and the economy will grind to a halt.

Maybe for a while. Then the 'lost' money would be put back into schools, hospitals and road safety, etc. There's nothing 'developing' about corruption. Saying it's a 'developing' country would be a compliment.