Prawit welcomes OAG probe into cost of controversial Hawaii trip
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER General Prawit Wongsuwan Tuesday welcomed an investigation by the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), saying it was good to have the agency look into the costs surrounding the controversial charter-flight mission led by him to Hawai
Prawit also said he was ready to disclose the names of his entourage, and affirmed that none of those joining him had been on the trip for leisure purposes.
“All of my team on the trip are related to me [my government duties] and went to Hawaii for work,” he stressed.
The delegation included a team comprising the vice defence minister and representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister, Prawit said, adding that the team was involved in discussions on several national security issues – namely terrorism, fisheries and human trafficking.
Prawit, in his other government capacity as the country’s defence minister, attended an informal meeting of defence ministers from Asean plus the United States and others in the Asia-Pacific in Honolulu at the invitation of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter.
More than 30 Thai officials reportedly went on the trip with the minister, which lasted from Thursday till Sunday, amid speculation of an overly expensive flight with luxurious food served on board, estimated to have cost around Bt20 million in total.
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