'Fair probe on park needed'

Responding to a minister’s comment that there might be corruption in the project, he said such a remark was inappropriate if it were based only on a little amount of briefly discussed information.

It could influence the Defence Ministry-assigned panel investigating the allegations, he said.

Udomdej said information obtained on the case should be submitted to the Auditor General and the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion so any wrongdoing could be checked at each step. He said he wanted to hold a press conference to explain the issue but doing so would be inappropriate, as the investigation committee should be able to do its job first.

Udomdej was Army chief when construction of the park began.

Deputy permanent secretary for defence General Chaichan Changmongkol, head of the probe team, yesterday said the investigation report would be based on information gathered from Army personnel and civilians involved in the project and information gleaned from relevant documents. The report would be concluded next week, he said. 

Only a handful of civilians needed to be interviewed before that, he said. The result of the investigation will be disclosed on December 25. 

Chaichan laughed and declined to comment when asked about the amulet trader accused of demanding millions of baht in commissions from foundry operators for contracting them to build seven giant statues of Thai kings at the park.