Ex-Democrat asks the NLA to investigate the Imboon programme

BANGKOK: -- Former Democrat party list MP Watchara Petthong has asked the National Legislative Assembly to investigate two assemblymen whom he accused of suspected corruption in the Imboon programme.

In a letter addressed to NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholachai, Watchara charged that the two assemblymen, Colonel Nathee Sakulrat, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and Mr Siriwat Kraisint, former senator of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, were involved in the Imboon programme under which 84 selected youths were to spend 999 days practicing Dhamma as a tribute to His Majesty the King.

The project, said Watchara, was initiated by the NBTC which allocated 84 million baht for the implementation of the programme and he woud like the NLA to rule whether the fund was misused or not.

The former Democrat MP said the fund might be used to buy votes ahead of the senatorial election.

Mr Pornpetch said he would refer the case to the Senate secretary-general to investigate as he himself had no authority to set up a probe into the matter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-democrat-asks-the-nla-to-investigate-the-imboon-programme


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-02

that's 300k/year per monk. A lot of money for somobody, who suppose to run ascetic lives. It's some 2-3 times more on what the majority of thai live on, including rising kids in the family.

so yes, looks like those monks were cheated out of pocket money

84 youths, 84 million baht.

At outset, it looks like a budget set for 1 million per youth, for about 2 1/2 years. Do they get paid that? Less accommodation expenses etc? Or are they volunteers doing it for merit and the expenses are actually just accommodation and food? And not much food need be bought for monks as it is all supplied by alms.

Sounds highly suspect and good on Khun Petthong for raising the issue.

As a tribute to the King. Has anyone asked the King if he wants this sort of excess as tribute? I daresay he would politely suggest the money be spent on agriculture initiatives or helping the poor. It is, after all, tax payer money.

Who decides this sort of expenditure from government coffers? That's the first question.