Asset Examination Committee To Tackle 3 Scandals

[Jai Dee]

AEC tackles 3 scandals

The Asset Examination Committee (AEC) will today summon witnesses in connection with the land purchase by Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, the CTX bomb detection scandal and the rubber plantation scandal for questioning, sources said yesterday.

The committee will examine whether the witnesses can implicate others who may be behind the alleged corruption, according to the source.

Pojaman is wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shina-watra.

Uthai Sonlaksub, the chairman of the Rubber Council of Thailand, yesterday said he was tipped off that the people who were behind the corruption in the rubber plantation project are trying to cover up and destroy evidence.

He also heads the sub-committee probing the corruption allegation involving the rubber plantation project.

"We fear that we can only net the small fish because the director-general and ministers who were involved in this project were very careful about not leaving any evidence to link them,'' he said.

Meanwhile the AEC asked its secretary, Kaewsan Atibodhi, to review his proposal to rent a building as an office for the committee, which currently works at the premises of Auditor-General Office, reasoning that the rent is unnecessary and costly.

The AEC also disagreed with Kaewsan's proposal to hire temporary workers to help in the investigation.

The Council for National Security will deploy some legal officials to help the AEC oversee its investigation, the source said.

Source: The Nation - 6 November 2006

[Old Man River]

It is going to be really interesting to find out what happened on the CTX scanner issue. At first there was so much being written about it in the media, statements from the US government, statements from the companies involved, so much money unaccounted for and then silence as if it never happened.

[farangsay]

It is going to be really interesting to find out what happened on the CTX scanner issue. At first there was so much being written about it in the media, statements from the US government, statements from the companies involved, so much money unaccounted for and then silence as if it never happened.

Also , did I read that they had to be replaced at the last minute as well ?

[Jai Dee]

AEC President is not worried about the old influence of the last government

President of the Asset Examination Committee (AEC), Mr. Nam Yimyam (นาม ยิ้มแย้ม), is not worried about the influence of the last administration of Po. Lt. Co. Thaksin Shinawatra.

In response to news about the return of Dr. Thaksin to Thailand, he insisted that his AEC is independent from the old power. He refused to comment or criticize the situation at this moment as he said that nothing has taken place yet.

Mr. Aumnuay Thanthara (อำนวย ธันธรา), member of the subcommittee on scrutinizing the CTX 900 procurement scandal, admitted that the case will be concluded as soon as the completeness of testimony.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

CTX probe to be wrapped up next month

A sub-assets examination committee has found strong evidences to take legal charges against permanent officials and panel in charge of the CTX bomb scanner purchase, the panel spokesman said.

Tortrakul Yomnak, spokesman of the subcommittee in charge of probing corruption behind the CTX scanner purchase, said the subcommittee would wrap up the investigation on December 3 and forward the finding to the full committee for endorsement and sending the case to court.

He said the subcommittee had yet to consider whether to halt the investigation or try to dig for more information to try to bring politicians involved to justice.

Source: The Nation - 14 November 2006

[Old Man River]

This is disappointing in that, from the message posted above, they have only been able to implicate permanent officials, but no politicians. It is hard to understand how, with so much money involved, that no politicians were involved.

[Jai Dee]

Suvarnabhumi's cable truss project developer to be the final witness

The subcommittee for inspecting the cable truss project in Suvarnabhumi Airport invited the project developer to be the final witness who will provide relevant information today.

This morning at the Office of the Auditor-General of Thailand, a meeting of the subcommittee for inspecting the purchase of the CTX explosives detection system in Suvarnabhumi Airport was held. Mr. Sawin Akrayuth, the chairman of this subcommittee, also invited the officers of the New Bangkok International Airport Company Limited to clarify the information.

In addition, a meeting of subcommittee for inspecting the cable truss project in Suvarnabhumi Airport was also being held this morning, and the Auditor-General, Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka, is the head of this investigation. The subcommittee invited the project developer, who is considered to be the final witness, to clarify the case after most of the information and facts have already been concluded. The case is expected to be wrapped up this December.

Pol. Maj-Gen. Surasit Sangkhapong, the former Director-General of the Government Lottery Office, will give an explanation on the lottery games of two and three digits this afternoon, and Mr. Udom Fuangfung is the chairman of this subcommittee for inspecting this case.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Kaewsan affirms that AEC's work will not be delayed

The Assets Examination Committee (AEC) Secretary-General Kaewsan Atibodhi (แก้วสรร อติโพธิ) indicated that AEC’s work will not be delayed, adding that AEC wants to gather evidence which can indicate the who and what went wrong.

In response to Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa’s (บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา) indication of the delay in AEC's assignment, Mr. Kaewsan said that Mr. Banharn’s indication was a misunderstanding. He said he used to inspect frauds in two cases, which are Klong Dan (คลองด่าน) and Shin Corp’s share distribution while he was Senator. He said that the evidence is not sufficient enough to implicate wrongdoers. Mr Kaewsan said that with insufficient evidences, suspected wrongdoers will finally have to be released as this has always be a major problem in every government administration.

As for the Kularb Keaw Company, he said that there is no conflict between police and Department of Business Development (DBD). He said that police will follow the investigating process, while DBD will consider the details of the Investment Act.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 November 2006

[womble]

Thaksin will be made to pay tax and that will be the end of it.

[Jai Dee]

BKK Governor prepares documents related to firefighter truck purchase to propose to AEC

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) indicated that the Bangkok Administration Administration (BMA) is gathering documents related to the firefighter trucks' procurement scandal. The documents will be proposed to the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Mr. Apirak said he used to submit the same documents to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) and the Office of the Auditor-General. However, further investigation has yet been assigned by the subcommittee for supervising this case.

The Bangkok Governor had a meeting with the Interior officials, and they considered the establishment of a joint committee. Representatives from relevant units, including the Justice Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Commerce Ministry were invited to take part in this joint committee.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 November 2006