"Fair, transparent" probe into park concluded by new year, say investigators

[snoop1130]

"Fair, transparent" probe into park concluded by new year, say investigators

By: The Nation

BANGKOK -- The Defence Ministry fact-finding team investigating alleged irregularities involving the Army's Rajabhakti Park project will complete its work before the year-end, according to its head.

General Chaicharn Changmongkol, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence who heads the fact-finding team, said Wednesday his panel had received good cooperation from everyone involved and he expected the investigation to be completed within this year.

"The fact-finding committee is gathering evidence and questioning witnesses. We will deal with this matter transparently and we will ensure fairness to all," Chaicharn said.

Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, who was in charge of the project when serving as the Army commander-in-chief, had met the probe panel on Monday, according to a source familiar with the investigation. And the Army's Finance Department director, Maj-General Chuchart Suksai, met with the panel on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fair-transparent-probe-into-park-concluded-by-new--30274177.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-02

[MZurf]

I'm holding my breath !!

[clockman]

Pigs might fly!

[slapout]

It will be interesting to see how the fees given to agent who asked for it , then money was returned to foundry owners who had paid it to start with, who then gave it to the army as a private donation to help pay for various unfinished landscaping, etc of the park or whatever use was decided on, is explained. That is my understanding of the sequence of events,

Where did funds go, into army general budget fund, special park fund, etc ? Some investigators can follow a cold trail through a blizzard but finally get to the end result and the true story comes out and all is fully explained. Hope this is one of those cases.

[Don Mega]

Pigs might fly!

[taony]

They will conclude the probe by the new year, I have no doubt. But will it be finished? Will it have even begun?

[smutcakes]

Surely they are going to try and bury this whole thing in the news when the KT verdict comes out....

[DrTuner]

It's transparent alright. Anyone can see through it.

[TheCruncher]

Those damn mediocre spell checkers

Far transparent probe into ................

[bangrak]

When one can tell when a probe will be successfully concluded, one mostly already knows what the conclusion of the probe will be...

And 'transparent' is not like white, 'transparent' just lets through the underlying colour, green may we presume, and if white, only that of a parade uniform...

LOL

[MaxLee]

More time to scrap things under the carpet,....

[phoenixdoglover]

Evidently the definition of Transparent is: the process by which a committee tells you the result of their secret deliberations.

[tomacht8]

Many General work on that case.

seems a bit heavy than usual.

[candide]

For those who still believe in santa claus!

[webfact]

'Fair and transparent' probe into park to be finished by year-end
THE NATION



DEFENCE MINISTRY TEAM PROMISES TO WRAP UP RAJABHAKTI CASE SOON

BANGKOK: -- THE DEFENCE Ministry's fact-finding team investigating alleged irregularities in the Army's Rajabhakti Park project will complete its work before year-end, according to its head.

General Chaicharn Changmong-kol, deputy permanent secretary for Defence, who heads the team, said yesterday that his panel had received good cooperation from those involved and he expects the investigation to be completed before the end of this month.

"The fact-finding committee is gathering evidence and questioning witnesses. We will deal with this matter transparently and ensure fairness to all," Chaicharn said.

Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, who was in charge of the project when serving as the Army commander-in-chief, met with the probe panel on Monday, according to a source familiar with the investigation. And the Army's finance department director, Maj-General Chuchart Suksai, met with the panel on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said yesterday it would take action against anyone suspected of irregularities in the Rajabhakti Park scandal, even if they were senior military officers.

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljieak said the anti-graft agency had looked into this scandal since it first made headlines. He said the NACC was waiting for results of investigations by the Office of the Auditor-General, the Crime Suppression Division and the Defence Ministry.

If the investigation finds any trace of irregularity, the NACC will take over, Sansern said. He denied that the NACC did not dare deal with the matter because of the involvement of senior military figures.

"We have regulations to follow. And we deal with cases under our jurisdiction. This is what we always do, regardless of who is in power," he said.

Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree maintained yesterday that the project was carried out transparently, adding that the Army would support any process that could clear up suspicions regarding this matter.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said Udomdej would decide for himself whether he should resign as deputy defence minister, though he said he does not think the government would be affected if Udomdej quit.

Udomdej has come under pressure from critics to step down in order to take responsibility for the scandal.

Yesterday he told reporters he did not feel any pressure regarding the issue, but declined to say if he would quit the Cabinet.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsu-wan said Udomdej would make his own decision about the matter. When asked if he had offered him moral support, Prawit said Udomdej did not need any extra support.

Prawit, who is also a deputy PM, reiterated that Udomdej and his successor, Army chief General Theerachai Nakwanich, had maintained good ties, denying speculation they were at odds over the Rajabhakti scandal. He added, however, that disagreement between colleagues was normal.

Another deputy PM, Wissanu Krea-ngam, yesterday said he believed there would be answers to the questions regarding this scandal. "It's not important [whether] some people are guilty or not. There must be answers to people who have questions," he said.

In a related development, Pheu Thai Party politician and red-shirt leader Nuttawut Saikuar yesterday said he had been "harassed" by the military over the past three months. He claimed that his house had been under around-the-clock surveillance by military officers who came to take photos every day and even followed his wife's car to his child's school.

Nuttawut was recently detained by military officers while joining Jatuporn Prompan, a fellow Pheu Thai politician and red-shirt leader, on their way to the Rajabhakti Park. They were accused of attempting to provoke disturbance.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fair-and-transparent-probe-into-park-to-be-finishe-30274209.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-03

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure the findings could be released now but waiting a while makes it look as if something is actually being done.

The Defence Minister will be cleared and the PM will hammer the table and say he doesn't want to hear any more about it.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

It will be interesting to see how the fees given to agent who asked for it , then money was returned to foundry owners who had paid it to start with, who then gave it to the army as a private donation to help pay for various unfinished landscaping, etc of the park or whatever use was decided on, is explained. That is my understanding of the sequence of events,

Where did funds go, into army general budget fund, special park fund, etc ? Some investigators can follow a cold trail through a blizzard but finally get to the end result and the true story comes out and all is fully explained. Hope this is one of those cases.

Take a step back first. Ask how the project got startup capital ? According to an article in BKK post B 1,6 bn was set aside of the Military budget to start a B 1 bn project (the cost also in a Bangkok post article). After they launched the project they started to receive donations, but how much did they get ? Was it B 1 bn or was it B 2 bn ? If there was a shortfall who financed the balance if there was a surplus where did it go ? (the chance of the donations being 100% on target is very remote). Lets now move to procedures. What procedures was used to appoint contractors for the project ? Who was auditing the process and procedures ? Who appointed the trust that over saw the building of the park ? Who was the brains behind the park (the one that first said a park must be build) ? Who approved the army/government land to be used for the park (this 220 rai is worth at least B 500 million) ? Who designed the park, because when it now rain the road between HH and Pranburi is under water due to the lack of drainage.

[trainman34014]

Which year end ?

[elgordo38]

It will be interesting to see how the fees given to agent who asked for it , then money was returned to foundry owners who had paid it to start with, who then gave it to the army as a private donation to help pay for various unfinished landscaping, etc of the park or whatever use was decided on, is explained. That is my understanding of the sequence of events,

Where did funds go, into army general budget fund, special park fund, etc ? Some investigators can follow a cold trail through a blizzard but finally get to the end result and the true story comes out and all is fully explained. Hope this is one of those cases.

No chance of a blizzard here but when it rains it pours. When it pours it creates a slippery slope. This one will qualify as extremely slippery with obstacles. They will try and come down in the middle of things. The loot will stay hidden and some minor player sacrificed, transferred, demoted and the band will break out in "Happy Days Are Here Again" On to the next debacle.

[hanuman2543]

Fair and transparent like always when members of the Armed Forces, Police or HiSo/elite are involved?

[PETERTHEEATER]

Transparent probe = Glass rod; where will it end up I ask myself........