GPO chief's axing 'not political'
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Board's probe was thorough, chairman says
Pipat Yingseree, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, yesterday denied that politics was behind the sacking of Dr Witit Artavatkun as the GPO’s managing director.
“The GPO board has issued a unanimous resolution to dismiss him based solely on his dereliction of duty,” he said.
If Witit felt the move was illegitimate, he could petition the Central Administrative Court, he said.
Digging deeper into the GPO board’s decision could affect Witit’s image, he said.
“To reach the unanimous vote, GPO board members held extensive and comprehensive discussions on him,” he said.
Even though deputy managing director Pisamorn Klinsuwan was involved in the Bt1.4-billion corruption scandal, that had no bearing on her appointment as acting managing director, he said.
“That offence was 14 years ago. She has been reprimanded and disciplined already,” he said.
The board conducted a careful review before deciding to name Pisamorn as acting MD, he said.
Dr Vichai Chokevivat, the previous GPO chairman, accused the current board of failing to perform its role satisfactorily.
“The board in fact has the duty to work with moral integrity, resist political interference and ensure justice for all sides,” he said.
“Witit’s dismissal was clearly politically motivated,” he said.
The board had called an urgent meeting last Friday instead of waiting until May 23 as scheduled because Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong would soon fly out of the country, he said.
Witit told him a few weeks ago that Pradit was trying to force him into returning all 148 tonnes of a precursor for paracetamol production to the supplier even though the contamination was not detected at delivery, but later during storage.
“Pradit gave a verbal order, making it difficult for Witit. According to the contract, the supplier will just provide a replacement,” he said.
Witit also told him that chairman Pipat had threatened to fire him for not agreeing to transfer Bt75 million from the GPO to the Public Health Ministry.
“The GPO is supposed to transfer the funds to the National Health Security Office. That’s
why Witit refused to oblige,” he said.
Witit could choose to file a lawsuit against the termination order to protect his dignity, he said.
Vichai is also feeling the heat after the Department of Special Investigation found him complicit in the paracetamol precursor procurement scandal. “I have requested a copy of the investigation report from the DSI but to date it has not given me one,” he said.
