Probe suggests graft in digital clock project

“There are grounds to believe that he violated criminal laws. We have informed the Office of the Permanent Secretary for the PM’s Office,” a member of a fact-finding committee said yesterday. The source identified the alleged wrongdoer as Watcharachai “Suvijak” Nakwatcharachai, who was recently transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office at the behest of the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order.
According to the source, PM’s Office adviser Tongthong Chandransu had launched a disciplinary probe against Suvijak.
“There are nine other government officials found guilty in this case, and they have been punished by a 2-to-4-per-cent cut in salary,” the source said, adding that one of these officials held a very senior C-10 rank.
This fact-finding committee member also disclosed that the Secretariat of the House of Representatives had lodged a complaint against these 10 officials with the Dusit Police Station.
“The police station has now forwarded the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission [NACC] for further action,” the source said.
The source added that nine other government officials and one civil servant were also found involved in corruption in relation to a Bt13.9-million project to improve the area around the King Rama VII statue.
“This case is also with the NACC,” the source disclosed.
In this case, seven state officials ranked between C-5 and C-11 were found to have committed grave disciplinary offences, while the remaining two committed minor offences.
In addition, the source said the fact-finding committee was now looking into seven other government projects worth more than Bt50 million on the suspicion that they too might have been mired in corruption.
“We have also received requests to investigate three more projects worth more than Bt60 million,” the source added.