M P Accuses Sukampol Of Allowing Bt1Bn Embezzlement In Navy Deal: Thailand

[webfact]

MP accuses Sukampol of allowing Bt1bn embezzlement in navy deal

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Democrat MP yesterday accused Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat of allowing politicians to embezzle Bt1 billion of the Bt2.7-billion allocated for the Royal Thai Navy's combat system upgrade project by allowing a change in the equipment specification.

MP Sirichok Sopha, during a censure debate, said that the decoy-launchers to be used with HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin were changed from SAGEM rotatable type to TERMA fixed type shortly after Sukampol's appointment as defence minister in January.

Saab had been awarded the contract last year by Sukampol's predecessor, General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, in the first phase of the project. The specifications of the decoy launchers at that time were rotatable type, Sirichok said. The Cabinet meeting in September approved Bt2.699 billion for phase two of the combat modernisation project with changed specifications as proposed by Sukampol.

"Political figures spread their wings and took 35 per cent [of the budget]. The project is worth Bt2.7 billion but the equipment was changed from the most advance technology to WWII-age technology. It's clearly against the conditions in the TOR [terms of reference]," Sirichok said, adding that a female politician who took the Bt1 billion was not an MP.

Sukampol did not address Sirichok's allegation immediately as in the case of other speakers, but returned a few hours later.

He explained that the reason for the change in specifications was the advanced technology would be too heavy and not compatible with the two old-model ships. The Royal Thai Navy then proposed the changes to the fixed type with other equipment provided that would make the contract of better value.

The Royal Thai Navy would hold a press conference next week to clarify the deal, he said.

However, Sirichok, said it was not true that the advanced technology would interrupt the ships' functioning. He quoted a Cabinet meeting report that it was Saab, not the Navy, that proposed the changes.

Earlier, Wiratana Kalayasiri accused Sukampol of breaching the Defence Ministry Administration Act.

He played a series of audio clips from a secret meeting to show that Sukampol had allegedly interfered in the appointment of the new permanent secretary.

The audio clip showed that then permanent secretary for Defence General Satien Permthong-in proposed General Chatree Thatti to be his successor, but Sukampol disagreed.

Sukampol proposed Thanongsak Apirakyothin as the new permanent secretary despite objections from military leaders, the clip apparently showed. Sukampol was also heard telling the military leaders not to speak about Thanongsak's appointment outside the meeting room.

Sukampol said that he had the power to do so. Wiratana did not play the entire clip of the meeting that would show the majority of the top brass in the meeting agreed with him, he said.

Sukampol said the secret recording of such a meeting was a severe violation of the regulations and he had ordered an investigation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was also cited during Wiratana's debate, spent about two minutes clarifying to the House that she had no authority to interfere in Sukampol's ministry.

"When General Satien petitioned [to me], I was not ignorant. I told the PM's Office secretary-general to send a letter to the Defence Minister to make sure that the appointments were done legally. The copy of the letter was also sent for Satien's acknowledgement," she said.

Meanwhile, Alongkorn Ponlaboot questioned Sukampol for giving the green light to a suspended Bt553-million patrol ship construction project that the National Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating and the auditor-general had found suspicious circumvention and breach of the TOR.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 26

[Moruya]

Oink oink.

Plenty of troughs here

[Buchholz]

[Defence Minister Sukampol] explained that the reason for the change in specifications was the advanced technology would be too heavy and not compatible with the two old-model ships

These two ships are the newest frigates in Thailand's Navy. They were built in 1995, decades after many other ships in their fleet. Also, the advanced technology has already been installed on 20 other nations' frigates.

.a female politician who took the Bt1 billion was not an MP

was she involved in the airport parking lot corruption also?

.

[animatic]

So far the excuses are not seeming to be backed by acutal factualness, but then who really expected that. All they really care about are

a ) [dems] airing the charges for public consideration

or

b ) [ptp] having the VOTES to throw the shooting match out

no matter what charges are made.

No one expects this to bring down the PTP Machine, just tarnish it more.

[alfalfa19]

From what I understand, 35 percent is about normal for graft on major projects in Thailand. I guess this explains why many projects are non functional, or outmoded, or bogus.

[asiawatcher]

Just more of what we already know. But how does this happen and are there no checks and balances? And why are the Thai people up in arms?

If Thai business protested about their tax money being skimmed by refusing payment to the revenue department until further notice, would that change anything? Cut off the food at the trough and the pigs will squeal.

[Buchholz]

From what I understand, 35 percent is about normal for graft on major projects in Thailand. I guess this explains why many projects are non functional, or outmoded, or bogus.

PTP wants to improve on that by increasing it in the OP to 37% .

,

.

[Thai at Heart]

Just more of what we already know. But how does this happen and are there no checks and balances? And why are the Thai people up in arms?

If Thai business protested about their tax money being skimmed by refusing payment to the revenue department until further notice, would that change anything? Cut off the food at the trough and the pigs will squeal.

You reckon that other than SET quoted companies the vast majority of Thai businesses pay their correct level of taxes?

If they did the government wouldn't need to be borrowing a penny. To that extent Thailand is similar to Greece.

[Buchholz]

It's clearly against the conditions in the TOR [terms of reference]," Sirichok said, adding that a female politician who took the Bt1 billion was not an MP.

That's not how it's done, Sirichok.

Follow Deputy Prime Minister's lead by listing a chronic medical malady as a means to identify the responsible party...

'Men in black' are policemen, Chalerm claims

He added that the mastermind behind these groups was now suffering from Parkinson's disease.

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4908402

Sirichok said, adding that a female politician who took the Bt1 billion was not an MP suffering from obesity.

.

[jcw]

Incredible, I wonder if Thai people will understand that the Gov coffers is their money ???

[jaltsc]

Where's the news in this article?

[pedro01]

On the flip side, just because an accusation is levelled, doesn't make it true.

Is there any hard evidence here?

[rubl]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was also cited during Wiratana's debate, spent about two minutes clarifying to the House that she had no authority to interfere in Sukampol's ministry.

"When General Satien petitioned [to me], I was not ignorant. I told the PM's Office secretary-general to send a letter to the Defence Minister to make sure that the appointments were done legally. The copy of the letter was also sent for Satien's acknowledgement," she said.

"I let them send a protest note". Now that will surely help

BTW with transparency somewhat important I'm sure the MoD will be able to provide a detailed account of how the THB 2.7 billion has been spent. A level of detail and truth which would even satisfy PWC or the like ?

[Nickymaster]

Bang!! The first billion is in the pocket for our Defence Minister.

[osiboy]

huge amounts of money , on EVERY govt deal ,.......... amazing how they continually get away with it, any bets that none will do any time at his majestys pleasure ?.............not a chance !

[pedro01]

huge amounts of money , on EVERY govt deal ,.......... amazing how they continually get away with it, any bets that none will do any time at his majestys pleasure ?.............not a chance !

Well if the Dems had any balls - perhaps they should show their evidence and say to hell with the libel laws and start naming names.

I doubt they will - because if both sides doing that, they will all be in jail.

[Rancid]

I am shocked! Not by the graft of course as that is SOP but that the other side even brings it up as they know there are plenty of the same skeletons in their closet. If both sides tabled every corrupt act the other side has engaged in since the founding of Thailand there wouldn't be enough paper to write it all up.

[Bluespunk]

1bn. That's a whole lot of graft. Not very bright really, I mean a million here or there you'd get away with but 1bn!! If this is true -if- then not only are these people greedy but stupid as well.

[Arkady]

Such a huge budget for decoy launchers for these two rusting old tubs built on the cheap in China in 1995 with a whole raft of quality problems can only mean one thing. If Thailand really needed frigates to fight a real war against a well armed enemy, it would be far better to put these two into service more fitting to their technical capabilities, i.e. as artifical reefs, and start again. Fortunately Thailand's frigates only need a pair of WW2 vintage Browning .50 calibre machine guns to occasionally hose down Burmese or Cambodian fishing smacks that stray into Thai territorial waters, or to show Rohingya refugees the meaning of Thai hospitality.