Auditor-general probes Defence Ministry over alleged Bt30,000-per-hour payments to Orapim

Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas told The Nation yesterday that the investigation followed reports that Orapim might have received payments from the Army at much higher a rate that was suggested by the Budget Bureau.
According to the bureau’s regulations, government agencies are required to spend no more than Bt1,600 per hour for the services of private lecturers at training events.
 “We will see if she really received Bt30,000 per hour from agencies under the Defence Ministry,” Pisit said. “We will determine the objectives behind the payments and also whether they followed the regulations.”
Pisit said designated rates were low when hiring well-known figures for events organised by government agencies. As a result, state agencies often paid celebrity speakers in the form of gifts in order to not break the budget regulations.
The auditor-general’s move came after Army personnel denied making any payments to the 30-year-old orator. 
Video clips showing her speaking at Army compounds can be seen on YouTube.
 “The Army never asked for such approval,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday. 
“I don’t know her [Orapim]. But I think she has good intentions for the country so please be fair to all sides,” he added.
Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said yesterday that Orapim had frequently been invited to speak before military personnel because of her ability to convey heartfelt stories about His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But the spokesman maintained that the Army never paid her.
Online criticism of Orapim has grown since last week when a video clip surfaced of her seemingly criticising people in the Northeast. Critics questioned the appropriateness of her comments because the speech was related to the late King.