City governor faulted for misusing central fund to launch the “Motif of Light” project



BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has faulted Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and eight other city officials of misusing the City Hall’s central fund for the “Motif of Light” or light tunnel project for tourism promotion.

Auditor-General Phisit Leelawachiropart told the media on Tuesday that the central fund was meant to be used for emergency or necessary project only and the “Motif of Light” project did not have the consent of the city council and, hence, the use of the central fund for the project was unlawful.

He said that the investigation also found out that the top administrators of the City Hall and some officials concerned appeared to favour the contractor which won the contract and that there might be a collusion in the bidding process.

Also, the 39.5 million baht price tag for the project was overstated and the actual cost should be about 29 million baht, said Mr Phisit.

He went on saying that even if the city administration had not paid the contractor it was unlikely that the City Hall could accept the project from the contractor. However, he insisted that damage had already done to the state because of the alleged misconduct in the project implementation.

For the next step, the auditor-general said he would report to the interior minister about the findings and would propose that a fact-finding probe team should be set up to consider disciplinary and criminal actions against the governor and eight other officials.

Mr Wasant Meewong, the governor’s personal secretary, said M.R. Sukhumbhand was not worried with the OAG’s probe result because the case was not over yet.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/162038

-- Thai PBS 2016-05-04

Just another case of officials doing what they want with public funds.

Always trying to siphon off monies for topping up their bank accounts.

'He's not worried'......because it's normal practice to steal Government funds and nobody ever goes to jail !

He's not worried because he will die of old age before any repercussions

If there have been irregularities then something needs to be done about it.

When I came back from the UK in January I met my wife in Bangkok and we stayed for a couple of days and went to have a look as I'd seen reports about it on here. I must admit it was impressive and so has everyone I've shown pictures and video. Perhaps if it had been somewhere else where it could have been either permanent or at least for a longer period. Of course maintenance could be an issue here. There's also the problem of the rainy season.

Blackpool illuminations in the UK run for a couple of months in September and October which probably gets a fair bit of rain and not much heat and it's 10km/6 miles long so maybe a longer term project might have been better with the proper permissions and oversight of course.

So maybe not then unfortunately.

Edited May 4, 201610 yr by kimamey

Do we expect the Democrat holding a press conference and saying "Whatever the Governor of Bangkok did has nothing to do with our party. We are waiting for the NCPO to life the restriction of Political Gathering so that we may officially declare that BMA has nothing to do with the Democrat?"

That's what happen when you fallen out of favor with powerful allies.

Just another case of officials doing what they want with public funds.

Always trying to siphon off monies for topping up their bank accounts.

I often read the term Governor here in Thailand but could never figure out what they do. Now I know.

In another newer thread, the Gov has responded, and seems to be using the common tactic of digging himself a deeper hole. And threatening a lawsuit of course.

..........some officials concerned appeared to favour the contractor which won the contract and that there might be a collusion in the bidding process.

This statement could be considered defamatory against the BMA so wait for the rebound.

Also, the 39.5 million baht price tag for the project was overstated and the actual cost should be about 29 million baht, said Mr Phisit.

Does this mean that the actual cost was about 29 million baht but the fund managers said it cost 39.5 million?

That's what happen when you fallen out of favor with powerful allies.

Quite possibly as the OAG is currently under NCPO's authority.

That was a nice little earner, he may have to give some of it up to avoid prosecution