AMLO may seize assets of firms in futsal scam

[Lite Beer]

AMLO may seize assets of firms in futsal scam
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai,
Prasit Tangprasert,
Jitima Janphrom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- More than 100 schools in 17 provinces facing investigation

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) may seize the assets of two private companies involved in the construction of futsal fields at 101 schools in the Northeast, Central and Northern regions that show premature degradation. Reporting the agency's probe into transactions of the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) project, AMLO secretary-general Pol Colonel Sihanart Prayoonrat said that AMLO had inspected commercial licences and transactions of the two bid-winning companies, to check their links to other bidders and whether there was an auction collusion.

AMLO also dispatched 10 officials to join the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) probe whether any official was involved in alleged corruption or illegally benefited from the project. They would wait for the PACC to find grounds for corruption before going ahead with asset seizure.

The case emerged after local military units in the Northeast inspected some futsal fields following parents' complaints of premature damage. The initial investigation found that the futsal field constructions costing Bt335 million in Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces might have involved corruption. Some schools in other provinces reportedly used that budget for other purposes such as building school toilets.

PACC chief Prayong Preeyajit, who joined with the military units in the recent inspection at a school in Nakhon Ratchasima's Prathai district, said that irregularities were detected in the school's spending of the Bt5-million budget to build a futsal field and in the purchase of sports manuals.

Prayong said the field was substandard and some parts of the ethylene acetate rubber coating were already swollen and thus unusable. He said that three firms had joined the biding and the winner was reportedly a subsidiary of the other bidder. He added that the construction materials appeared to be worth less than Bt5 million.

Prayong said Obec had got more than Bt600 million to build futsal fields in 358 schools in 17 provinces. Obec had also set that the laying of concrete for the futsal fields would cost 4 per cent of the budget, ethylene acetate rubber coating would cost 80 per cent, while 16 per cent would be used for buying sports equipment and manuals.

Prayong said that the PACC's initial probe of 30 schools in Nakhon Ratchasima had found that many fields were already worn out and might have been overpriced. The team would gather information on procurement and witness testimonies to report to the PACC board soon.

The Office of the Auditor-General of Thailand Region 4 director Teerasak Wiriyaklompan said that provinces in his jurisdiction - Nakhon Ratachsima, Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram and Surin - received Bt340 million to cover 76 schools. The Region 4 officials' inspection of 16 schools in Nakhon Ratchasima's Noen Sung district found no documents on construction procedure to check and the construction materials were also not tested as per the regulation.

They would send an engineer to investigate whether the field damages, after two years of use, were related to the materials. The probe would be completed by the end of October.

Meanwhile, Rangsan Theunana-dee, director of the Secondary Educational Service Area 25, said 15 schools under his jurisdiction had got a total of some Bt28 million budget to build futsal fields.

His office would next week launch a probe and report the problem to the provincial governor, the auditor-general and related agencies.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/AMLO-may-seize-assets-of-firms-in-futsal-scam-30245228.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-11

[ChrisY1]

The scams keep rolling in.........millions lost here by the Govt.......millions gained by who knows......

Will there be any prosecutions?...........probably not...again!!

[ezzra]

Seeing and reading of theses mega corruptions scandals on almost a daily bases, one would

get to think that the Thai economy is largely based and fueled by these supersize projects that

going every which way but the honest way, seems that Thais are incapable of doing something

right with out thinking how they can rort the system,

one would also come to the conclusion that if corruption will cease to exist in Thailand the economy will probably

shrink by 30% at least..

[halloween]

"Some schools in other provinces reportedly used that budget for other purposes such as building school toilets."

Nice to see that some school administrators have got their priorities right. Can I make the assumption that all the schools allocated B5 million have electricity connected?

[Chris Lawrence]

'AMLO secretary-general Pol Colonel Sihanart Prayoonrat said that AMLO had inspected commercial licences and transactions of the two bid-winning companies, to check their links to other bidders and whether there was an auction collusion.'

I would think normal practice with some tenders. Different companies within an organisation, offereing different levels of service at different tender prices. The company directors could also be crossed check at the time of review of tenders?

But then again someones cousin may not have been looked at?

'The case emerged after local military units in the Northeast inspected some futsal fields following parents' complaints of premature damage. The initial investigation found that the futsal field constructions costing Bt335 million in Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces might have involved corruption. Some schools in other provinces reportedly used that budget for other purposes such as building school toilets.'

The problem of top down management. Not knowing what is needed in the local area?

Wouldn't you think they would have some one checking the work before signing off for payment?

[TheCruncher]

Wouldn't you think they would have some one checking the work before signing off for payment?

Depends which payment you have in mind, the company's or the school directors payment.

[catinthehat]

As usual now they have time to move andor conceal their assets. Amazing Thailand

[Time Traveller]

Slow down people....there is nothing in this story that says scam except the headline.

A few futsal fields are showing wear 2 years after construction and these stupid journalists assume corruption. The story simply says the company may have assets seized and is being investigated. Wait until investigation is complete before jumping to conclusions

[seajae]

when are we going to see the courts actually take the money from the people running these scams, they always let them off with a piddling little fine to spend the millions they have gained through their corrupt practices. The owners and their families get a huge financial windfall while the poor have to pay for it, seems that no govt is prepared to do anything about it in case they lose their "benefits" of office. Guilty parties should have their bank accounts seized and handed over to the country, maybe when they realize they will lose everything they will stop the corruption

[maximus101]

Slow down people....there is nothing in this story that says scam except the headline.

A few futsal fields are showing wear 2 years after construction and these stupid journalists assume corruption. The story simply says the company may have assets seized and is being investigated. Wait until investigation is complete before jumping to conclusions

Atually if there is no corruption it would be the exception to the rule

usuall Its not hidden in any clever way as they dont think anyone can do anything about it

the contracts that get bid for around where I am ask for up to 50% of the contracts value in cash before you get the contract

That means you have to do the work for half the money. Its no wonder things dont last

Ive even asked lawyers to do some things for me but they always ask for the bribe money they have to pay on top of the fees. Even buying land from a policeman didnt help me having to pay a bribe for the transfer

[rametindallas]

Seeing and reading of theses mega corruptions scandals on almost a daily bases, one would

get to think that the Thai economy is largely based and fueled by these supersize projects that

going every which way but the honest way, seems that Thais are incapable of doing something

right with out thinking how they can rort the system,

one would also come to the conclusion that if corruption will cease to exist in Thailand the economy will probably

shrink by 30% at least..

It the corruption in government contracts ceased, projects would cost 30% less, thereby freeing up money for more infrastructure improvements. The investment by the government would be the same except that the 30% would not be going into the offshore accounts of the well-connected few but, instead, used for the benefit of the many.

[Lupatria]

I believe the chances that Bkk is covered under 1 foot of snow around Christmas is equal to the chance that any assets will be seized from any official involved. This screams for many more inactive posts.

[sjjmmi]

Scam of the year

[halloween]

Slow down people....there is nothing in this story that says scam except the headline.

A few futsal fields are showing wear 2 years after construction and these stupid journalists assume corruption. The story simply says the company may have assets seized and is being investigated. Wait until investigation is complete before jumping to conclusions

Those stupid journalists also reported earlier that a professional court was built in BKK for B2 million, so when B5 million is allocated for these you might think they would be of superb quality or a tad over-priced. As superb quality seems noticeably absent................