DSI says Witit breached several laws

The DSI said it would send its findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation. The probe was launched after it was discovered that GPO director Witit Artavatkun had breached a number of laws. 

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said Witit’s actions had violated the Bidding Price Collusion Act and the Criminal Code’s Article 157 that covers officials who wrongfully exercise their duties. 

Tarit said Witit approved a Bt20-million budget for a factory design – well above the previously approved Bt8 million for design work. He said the contract was also divided into four subcontracts – an action that suggested certain projects and procurements were set up to benefit particular groups – thus leading to unfair bidding. 

Under the Bt1.4-billion project, Tarit said the Cabinet had given approval to the factory to produce vaccines from dead cell strains, but Witit had been producing vaccines from both live and dead cell strains without first seeking permission from the Cabinet. He added that Witit also mismanaged the project contract, leading to a delay in construction. 

Tarit said the DSI would continue to investigate the GPO’s vaccine-producing factory. 

He added that it was up to the Public Health Ministry whether to dismiss Witit. The DSI only has power to take action in criminal cases, he said.

A source at the DSI said that besides the procurement of paracetamol ingredients and the Saraburi vaccine factory, the Public Health Ministry was planning to get the DSI to probe other GPO projects. These included the renovation of a drug factory on Bangkok’s Rama VI Road and another construction project for an HIV/Aids-vaccine factory.

 

Protesters warned

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong urged rural doctors, who vowed earlier to rally outside Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s residence on June 6, to be mindful, act appropriately and not break the law. He said he would have officials check to ensure the protest was held legally and peacefully, and to make sure that rural doctors followed proper procedures when requesting employment leave.

Meanwhile, GPO board president Dr Pipat Yingseri said people should not speculate about the fate of GPO director Witit because – in addition to dismissing him from his post – today’s board meeting may well decide to take further disciplinary action against him. 

Pradit said that if the board tabled the matter, he expected that it would hand down are fair and rational decision. 

Rural Doctors Society chairman Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, who claims Witit is a victim of political bullying, said the group would ask Yingluck to fire Pradit and cancel Pradit’s policy-to-pay allowance to rural doctors via the pay-for-performance (P4P).