FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Agencies quash Rajabhakti Park graft rumours

Agencies quash Rajabhakti Park graft rumours

RELEVANT AGENCIES yesterday joined forces in another attempt to end the corruption scandal that has plagued the Rajabhakti Park project since last year.

Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, who chairs the Centre for National Anti-Corruption, told a press conference yesterday that contrary to widespread rumours, a careful investigation had not found illegal kickbacks involved in the project’s implementation.
By his side were representatives from the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
“We have worked together in investigating the scandal. We are ready to show evidence in support of the probe results,” Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas said.
“Reports have labelled money a project’s adviser received as an illegal kickback but in fact that amount is a management fee. It’s also money paid by members of the private sector. No one involved in the payment is in the government sector.”
The investigation results announced yesterday repeated what Army and the Defence Ministry inquiries concluded – the Rajabhakti Park project is free from corruption.
Located on an Army plot of land in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the project includes a large park and huge statues of seven former kings with a budget of about Bt733milion.
Most of the funding comes from donations, with only about Bt90 million coming from state coffers. The project still has Bt140 million available.
While Rajabhakti Park opened in impressive style, scandals soon broke out miring the project in alleged irregularities.
The scandal also hurt the credibility of the current government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), in part because Deputy Defence Minister and NCPO deputy chief General Udomdej Sitrabutr is at the centre of allegations.
Udomdej maintains he is innocent of wrongdoing.
Jatuporn Prompan, a red-shirt leader who has demanded a transparent investigation, was also present at the press conference yesterday to follow the results. He said he was unhappy with the results.
“The results seem to repeat exactly what Udomdej has said. I will officially lodge a complaint with the NACC,” he said.
 

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