Sukhumbhand’s pricey office renovation defended

The project has faced criticism for alleged overpriced furniture and renovation cost.

Wasant Meewong, adviser to the governor, said the cost included renovating the offices of deputy governors, advisers and secretaries, as well as meeting rooms, a reception room and the Amarin room.

The project was initiated after the ceiling of a bathroom collapsed. Technicians found that the piping above the ceiling in many areas needed repair. 

What started from the bathroom had expanded to other rooms after the ceilings had to be opened for repairs, he said.

Sukhumbhand had nothing to do with the renovation because during that period he had taken leave of office. 

“When he returned to the office, the remodelling was over,’’ he said.

The dining tables and chairs were for the reception room and big screen televisions were not for personal entertainment but for flood-monitoring and for meetings for other occasions.

Sukhumbhand declined to comment about the report, saying the city clerk had given an interview on it already.

City clerk Peerapong Saichua said a fact-finding panel has been appointed with a deputy city clerk or the inspector-general heading it to look into who were involved in the project and whether there were any irregularities.

The panel would take 60 days to complete its work, he said.