Graft suspected in Buri Ram solar cell project
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The authorities in the Northeast province of Buri Ram plan to punish those who are found to have taken kick-backs in relation to overpriced solar cells in Nong Ki and Non Suwan districts.
Buri Ram local administrator Songwut Chanphongsri said yesterday the move followed a previous inspection by Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chief Prayong Preeyajit and his team over procurements in the two districts as well as Nang Rong district.
While Nang Rong procurement bodies bought 17 solar cell sets for Bt716,000 in total, the other two districts bought the same number of cells for Bt1.938 million, raising corruption concerns.
Songwut said the PACC would proceed with criminal punishments while his office, under the supervision of provincial governor, would launch probes to determine if the local bodies’ leaders were involved in corruption and all wrongdoers would be punished. The province’s six districts operate under power generated by solar cells.
