Gen Anupong says he will sack Bangkok governor only after court cases end



BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda says the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has recommended the ministry to appoint a disciplinary committee to punish officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and file civil suit against them for compensation over the controversial "Motif of Light" project implemented from December 30 to January 31 this year.

The recommendation came after the OAG found corruption in the light project.

Gen Anupong said the OAG also recommend the ministry to sue BMA governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra in the court.

He said the ministry has complied with the recommendations by setting up a fact finding committee to investigate.

But for the court case against the governor, he said it would be handled by the police.

Asked whether he would sack the governor or not, he said the action should come after the final court procedure ends.

The OAG has completed its investigation with recommendation that the Bangkok governor be charged with corruption over his alleged abuse of power in the procurement of lighting equipment used during the 2016 New Year light show at City Hall or BMA.

According to The Nation, the extravagant light-tunnel show in front of City Hall during the New Year festival was touted by the Bangkok governor as a gift to Bangkokians and foreign tourists visiting the capital.

The project drew criticism after it emerged that public funds were misused and the selection of the bid winner was questionable.

The “Motif of Light” project was awarded to Curio Tour and Travel Co on December 22. Its ToR, however, were announced on November 13 and stated that the project’s objective was to decorate City Hall with the light-tunnel technique for 30 days.

Several companies purchased the bidding document but only two firms, including Curio Tour and Travel, submitted bids.

The OAG found that some of the company’s executives were members of the ToR committee responsible for selecting the wining bid.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-anupong-says-will-sack-bangkok-governor-court-cases-end/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-12

Another committee. You couldn't make it up. So the officials are corrupt, the current people in power are eradicating corruption.Oh dear, I bet the officials are quaking in their boots.

Mitaire cleaning thailand . But what can do if corruption is strongee then it seems to be

he spent money making bkk look pretty using wrong funds.

this is lame. there are thai politicians who are so much worse and caught with so much more. let the politician who has NOT stolen money cast the first stone.

Mr, Anupong should read a history book.

I thought corruption was an illegal crime and misuse of public funds. Should it be in the hands of a prosecutor and not a committee?

he spent money making bkk look pretty using wrong funds.

this is lame. there are thai politicians who are so much worse and caught with so much more. let the politician who has NOT stolen money cast the first stone.

Mr, Anupong should read a history book.

You could do with doing some reading up on the very very well connected Governor too, and see that he's been misappropriating lots of City funds over the years.

He spent budget funds for the cities drainage system on revamping his office, he spent money of fire trucks, all at significant higher costs than the retail ones.

So it's a far bigger issue than just "making Bangkok look pretty"

Didn't Mr You-can't-say-Bangkok-is-flooded,-it-only-has-'water-to-drain' threaten to sue whoever say he is guilty??

I thought corruption was an illegal crime and misuse of public funds. Should it be in the hands of a prosecutor and not a committee?

All crime, by definition, is illegal. There is no legal crime.

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

And along comes a sycophant to turn this into a political issue.

You maybe have missed this but EVERYONE, including his own party have been calling for him to step down/be dismissed.

You clearly know why he cannot be sacked, you've already alluded to his "connections"

Edited July 12, 20169 yr by Holy Cinema

This is why Thailand will never change from being a deeply corrupt failed state - no political will to see corrupt officials convicted and do serious time (unless they're the Other Lot's people - whoever's in power). And any guesses how long the 'court cases' will drag on?

If people are charged with serious crimes they should at the VERY least be removed from office and put on leave, or preferably imprisoned pending trial if they are a flight risk (and who isn't these days?).

Edited July 12, 20169 yr by sharecropper

This is why Thailand will never change from being a deeply corrupt failed state - no political will to see corrupt officials convicted and do serious time (unless they're the Other Lot's people - whoever's in power). And any guesses how long the 'court cases' will drag on?

If people are charged with serious crimes they should at the VERY least be removed from office and put on leave, or preferably imprisoned pending trial if they are a flight risk (and who isn't these days?).

That's a little harsh........traditionally perps and pillagers are punished by being sent to an inactive resort...sorry...post with home comforts!

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

Edited July 12, 20169 yr by Prbkk

And along comes a sycophant to turn this into a political issue.

You maybe have missed this but EVERYONE, including his own party have been calling for him to step down/be dismissed.

You clearly know why he cannot be sacked, you've already alluded to his "connections"

You think this is not a political issue? I am all in favour of corrupt officials being dismissed, though this one doesn't affect me or mine.

But I don't have to explain why sacking a corrupt local government is so much more acceptable than sacking a corrupt federal government. Everyone, except their own party (who were profiting from the corruption), were calling for them to be dismissed.

BTW should council employees be allowed to throw a few grenades at those calling for dismissal?

I thought corruption was an illegal crime and misuse of public funds. Should it be in the hands of a prosecutor and not a committee?

This is a pooyay with connections to the big house. a committee will always 'be formed' to process these people. It makes time to consider how best to let him off with a trivial or no penalty.

Plus it gives the hopeless Abhisit time to prepare his campaign to be the new governor. Abhisit being a favoured son with connections himself (though of a different kind) to the big house, but whom the Democrat party wants rid of. Understandably.

That move would then make space for a current or retired military general to take up leadership of the Democrat party though I'm naming no names...

Winnie

Edited July 12, 20169 yr by Winniedapu

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

They did it more than me, so I should be forgiven. AKA "the little Johnny did it too" defence. But hang on, they are talking about prosecuting a hi-so here, so that fails even more miserably than usual.

As for your maths, how much did Thaksin reap from a 20 year mobile phone monopoly? Add that to the B600 billion blown in the rice scam, then multiply by 50.

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

They did it more than me, so I should be forgiven. AKA "the little Johnny did it too" defence. But hang on, they are talking about prosecuting a hi-so here, so that fails even more miserably than usual.

As for your maths, how much did Thaksin reap from a 20 year mobile phone monopoly? Add that to the B600 billion blown in the rice scam, then multiply by 50.

YOU are the one who keeps making comparisons to the past, youre stuck there, you can't let it go, YOU are one of the regular sycophants who can't seem to move beyond Thaksin, and get on with their lives, not that he ever had an effect on yours anyway, but you do love to chunter and whine about shit from the past that can't be changed, you're are like a broken record.

You have an obsession about Thaksin and the red shirts, they'll be there long after you, you should try accepting that.

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

They did it more than me, so I should be forgiven. AKA "the little Johnny did it too" defence. But hang on, they are talking about prosecuting a hi-so here, so that fails even more miserably than usual.

As for your maths, how much did Thaksin reap from a 20 year mobile phone monopoly? Add that to the B600 billion blown in the rice scam, then multiply by 50.

YOU are the one who keeps making comparisons to the past, youre stuck there, you can't let it go, YOU are one of the regular sycophants who can't seem to move beyond Thaksin, and get on with their lives, not that he ever had an effect on yours anyway, but you do love to chunter and whine about shit from the past that can't be changed, you're are like a broken record.

You have an obsession about Thaksin and the red shirts, they'll be there long after you, you should try accepting that.

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

Another committee. You couldn't make it up. So the officials are corrupt, the current people in power are eradicating corruption.Oh dear, I bet the officials are quaking in their boots.

+ 1

A conundrum for our red supporters. Here we have a member of the BKK elite, a member of the royal family no less, who gives every sign of being corrupt. Should they advocate his immediate dismissal and prosecution?

Why not? Because he is an elected official, head of an elected council, very much a smaller scale version of the corrupt government sacked not too long ago.

That's where you are 100% wrong: the hiso, connected corruption, unchallenged for decades, outweighs anything on the red side of the ledger by 50 fold. The but...but...but Thaksin brigade fail to acknyowledge that indisputable fact ( perhaps borne of an obsessive zealotry). Thaksin: nasty no doubt, but chicken feed by comparison with the robber barons.

They did it more than me, so I should be forgiven. AKA "the little Johnny did it too" defence. But hang on, they are talking about prosecuting a hi-so here, so that fails even more miserably than usual.

As for your maths, how much did Thaksin reap from a 20 year mobile phone monopoly? Add that to the B600 billion blown in the rice scam, then multiply by 50.

YOU are the one who keeps making comparisons to the past, youre stuck there, you can't let it go, YOU are one of the regular sycophants who can't seem to move beyond Thaksin, and get on with their lives, not that he ever had an effect on yours anyway, but you do love to chunter and whine about shit from the past that can't be changed, you're are like a broken record.

You have an obsession about Thaksin and the red shirts, they'll be there long after you, you should try accepting that.

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

If you are talking about the 18 past coups and counting, I agree with you.

,,,never enough....

...and never swift justice.....

BKK govenor should be sack and in jail since long time ago...bet its only because of his title that the case is moving so slow against him