Graft charge not substantiated: FROC

The source, who asked not to be named, said Democrat Party deputy spokesman Sakoltee Phattiyakul, who first raised suspicion that the items in flood-relief bags were cheaper than the FROC’s reported prices, and the editor of the ASTV Manager newspaper had refused to provide information when summoned to do so. 

Only a representative from the Naew Na daily newspaper responded positively to the investigation panel, the source said, adding that regulations required witnesses to sign confirming their testimony and the request for Sakoltee to do so was not media intimidation, as had been alleged.

Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Yanyong Phuangrach, who is head of the panel, Justice Ministry chief inspector Weerayut Sukcharoen and Department of Special Investigation deputy director-general Narat Sawetanant have laid the framework for the investigation.

Preliminary information has found that the prices of the flood-relief bags range from Bt300 to Bt800, the source said. 

The first batch of bags to assist flood victims were packed with donated items, but the level of donations then decreased and the FROC had to purchase supplies to fill them, thus raising the cost.

The relief bags about which questions are being asked were purchased for Bt300, but political opponents have alleged that Bt800 apiece had been charged for these bags, the source said. 

PM’s Office inspector Chamroen Yuttithamsakul, in charge of FROC supply distribution, was yesterday summoned by the panel to clarify whether the relief bags at each price level contained the products set out in the procurement process, where they had been distributed and under what conditions flood victims would get each level of relief items, the source said.

FROC director Police General Pracha Promnok has not announced a probe into the procurement of fibre-glass boats, tents and toilets, which were also found to have been purchased at different prices, raising doubts over transparency, the source added.

Another FROC source, who also asked not to be named, earlier said that different sets of flood-relief items would be distributed in accordance with the conditions faced by each victim.

Bt300 bags would be distributed to those only slightly affected by the flooding, while Bt500 bags would be for those still able to cook, hence they would include rice and instant noodles.

Meanwhile, Bt800 bags would be for flood victims who could no longer cook, therefore the food included in each bag would be ready-to-eat.