Anti-corruption inspection of repairs in Parliament
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The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday dispatched officials to inspect the Parliament building after an allegation that the price for renovations was inflated by massive corruption.
The inspection was led by Kosol Khamsiri, director of the division for investigation into alleged corruption by state agencies. Kosol said he conducted the inspection after a complaint filed by Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong.
Kosol said he would seek more documents from House of Representatives secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatcharachai on the renovation project and might also summon certain officials to testify if needed.
After he had received enough information, he would make a decision by early next year on whether to proceed with the inquiry.
Kosol said he inspected six sites renovated under the project – the press room, office of the House strategic committee, the budget room, the room for selling plane and bus tickets to MPs and senators, the room for selling souvenirs and for receiving public complaints, and the King Rama VII ground.
“During the fact-finding, we may seek cooperation from a government agency that is in charge of providing median prices to ascertain whether the cost of the renovations was too high,” Kosol said.
During the inspection, Kosol was led around by Vilas Chanpitaksa, chief adviser for the House panel against corruption.
Vilas led Kosol to see the 200 wall-mounted clocks that cost Bt75,000 each and dispensers of cool drinking water that cost Bt70,000 each.
