Anti-graft agency discovered magical powers in fake bomb detectors
Re: “Corruption watchdog failed in its duty over bogus ‘bomb detectors’”, Have Your Say, yesterday.
Robin Grant apparently doesn’t understand what the anti-corruption agency said. Here is the gist:
The agency did not find any irregularity regarding the procurement process for the bomb detectors.
The Army believed in good faith that the detectors really worked and could save lives. (It’s the thought that counts, you know).
On the exorbitant prices paid for the useless gadgets (Bt800,000 each), get this – the agency compared the detectors to amulets. Despite having no intrinsic value in themselves, some amulets can command outrageous prices (up to Bt10 million apiece) because Thais believe they have magic power to protect the holders from danger. The same principle applied to the detectors: the agency said they magically made the users feel calm and confident when searching for bombs; therefore, they are priceless.
The agency concluded that, since the case has no statute of limitation, it will continue to work diligently and unrelentingly on it. In other words, case closed.
Somsak Pola
Samut Prakan
