Thai Democrat M P Pushes For Probe Against Speaker

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POLITICS

MP pushes for probe against Speaker

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Democrat MP yesterday urged Parliament to investigate an allegation that House Speaker Somsak Prissana-nanthakul demanded 20-per-cent kickbacks from two firms planning to bid for a contract to build the new Parliament complex in the Kiakkai area of Bangkok's Dusit district.

Democrat party-list MP Watchara Petthong took to the House floor calling on Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol, who chaired yesterday's session, to set up a panel to look into the allegation against Somsak.

Watchara said a person claiming to be a close aide of Somsak reportedly demanded 20-per-cent payments from two construction contractors that had won approval to bid for the project. The bidders were allegedly asked to pay 10 per cent before the contract was signed, plus a Bt300,000 donation to the Krathin ceremony at Wat Chaeng Sawangnok chaired by Somsak in Khon Kaen's Chum Phae district.

Charoen dismissed the allegation as groundless, saying no offence had been committed, since the bidding had yet to be carried out.

He said Somsak had assigned him to oversee the turning over of state property for the project, a process he said would be delayed by three to five months. The deputy speaker said he had earlier wanted the military to relocate on December 5 from the state land to be used for the new Parliament, but construction of the new military compounds could not be completed on time. Watchara insisted that the investigative panel be established so that Somsak can clear his name.

"Parliament is a sacred place. We have not heard about corruption in the legislative branch," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-11-09

[jerrysteve]

THEY sure do a lot PROBES, They might be get better results sending probes up their own rectums!!!

[OzMick]

I wonder if PTP has a Bribe Soliciting Organising Committee? I mean, how embarrassing for Somsak if Yaowapa had been there before him. Or worse still, he thought she had and somebody gets a contract without a kickback.

[ratcatcher]

"Parliament is a sacred place. We have not heard about corruption in the legislative branch," he said.

Quote of the day/week?

[bigbamboo]

"Parliament is a sacred place. We have not heard about corruption in the legislative branch," he said.

Quote of the day/week?

'Parliament is a sacred place'. Holy shit indeed!

And 'no offence had been committed as the bidding hadn't been carried out' ........ yet.

Edited November 9, 2012 by bigbamboo

[Tatsujin]

Only 20%? Things are getting cheap here now then ...

[asiawatcher]

Going rate is 30% - but it's not that difficult. Add 40% to the quote and pay back 30% and make a bit extra for your trouble. They don't say no. A former TAT Governor was known as M*** 30%. She grabbed over USD1.6M and FBI want to charge her but of course Thailand won't give her up. Thailand is about as straight as a dog's hind leg.