Udomdej vows to push Rajabhakti projects
DEPUTY Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitrabutr has promised to go ahead with plans to construct more facilities for the Rajabhakti Park project, after inquiries by several agencies cleared his name in a corruption scandal.
“In my capacity as the chair of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Army, I will try to complete the construction of learning facilities inside the park,” Udomdej said yesterday.
He also said he would welcome an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission if it wanted to look further into the scandal.
On Wednesday, the Centre for National Anti-Corruption (CNAC) called a press conference and announced that an investigation had not found illegal kickbacks in the park project.
Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas explained the results of the inquiry at the press conference, describing the money given by foundries to an amulet expert as a “management fee”.
“I’ve explained from the very beginning that there were no illegal kickbacks,” Udomdej said yesterday.
He also denied that people or firms had donated money to the Rajabhakti project to whitewash their wrongdoings.
Udomdej expressed his thanks to every donor for sponsoring the project, which is meant to honour the monarchy, create a place for learning about the country’s history, and provide a gathering space for ceremonies.
Located on an Army plot of land, the Rajabhakti Park features huge statues of seven former Thai kings.
Despite the scandal, the park attracted about 3.8 million visitors between last October and this month.
Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, who chairs the CNAC, said he had already reported results of the inquiry to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
“The probes were conducted based on evidence. There was no interference,” Paiboon said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said he did not have any doubts about the Rajabhakti project’s implementation.
“It’s good that there was no corruption. If there was corruption, the Office of Auditor General certainly wouldn’t let anyone off the hook,” he said.
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