MP accuses sukampol of allowing bt1bn embezzlement in navy deal

MP Sirichok Sopha, during a censure debate, said that the decoy-launchers to be used with HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin were changed from SAGEM rotatable type to TERMA fixed type shortly after Sukampol’s appointment as defence minister in January.

 

Saab had been awarded the contract last year by Sukampol’s predecessor, General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, in the first phase of the project. The specifications of the decoy launchers at that time were rotatable type, Sirichok said. The Cabinet meeting in September approved Bt2.699 billion for phase two of the combat modernisation project with changed specifications as proposed by Sukampol.

 

“Political figures spread their wings and took 35 per cent [of the budget]. The project is worth Bt2.7 billion but the equipment was changed from the most advance technology to WWII-age technology. It’s clearly against the conditions in the TOR [terms of reference],” Sirichok said, adding that a female politician who took the Bt1 billion was not an MP.

 

Sukampol did not address Sirichok’s allegation immediately as in the case of other speakers, but returned a few hours later.

 

He explained that the reason for the change in specifications was the advanced technology would be too heavy and not compatible with the two old-model ships. The Royal Thai Navy then proposed the changes to the fixed type with other equipment provided that would make the contract of better value.

 

The Royal Thai Navy would hold a press conference next week to clarify the deal, he said.

 

However, Sirichok, said it was not true that the advanced technology would interrupt the ships’ functioning. He quoted a Cabinet meeting report that it was Saab, not the Navy, that proposed the changes.

 

Earlier, Wiratana Kalayasiri accused Sukampol of breaching the Defence Ministry Administration Act.

 

He played a series of audio clips from a secret meeting to show that Sukampol had allegedly interfered in the appointment of the new permanent secretary.

 

The audio clip showed that then permanent secretary for Defence General Satien Permthong-in proposed General Chatree Thatti to be his successor, but Sukampol disagreed.

 

Sukampol proposed Thanongsak Apirakyothin as the new permanent secretary despite objections from military leaders, the clip apparently showed. Sukampol was also heard telling the military leaders not to speak about Thanongsak’s appointment outside the meeting room.

 

Sukampol said that he had the power to do so. Wiratana did not play the entire clip of the meeting that would show the majority of the top brass in the meeting agreed with him, he said.

Sukampol said the secret recording of such a meeting was a severe violation of the regulations and he had ordered an investigation.

 

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was also cited during Wiratana’s debate, spent about two minutes clarifying to the House that she had no authority to interfere in Sukampol’s ministry. 

 

“When General Satien petitioned [to me], I was not ignorant. I told the PM’s Office secretary-general to send a letter to the Defence Minister to make sure that the appointments were done legally. The copy of the letter was also sent for Satien’s acknowledgement,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Alongkorn Ponlaboot questioned Sukampol for giving the green light to a suspended Bt553-million patrol ship construction project that the National Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating and the auditor-general had found suspicious circumvention and breach of the TOR.