Thai Interior Ministry Official Denies Graft In Flood Projects
The Nation 2012-05-10
BANGKOK: -- A deputy permanent secretary from the Interior Ministry denied yesterday that he had told an opposition MP that the ministry's flood-prevention projects were hounded by rampant corruption.
"I did testify before the House panel and did acknowledge reports about corruption, but all the projects have not been approved and no payments have been made. Less than half of the projects have progressed," Pracha Terat said.
He claimed that certain "middlemen", allegedly high-ranking officials at provincial authorities, tried to secure projects in exchange for a 35-per-cent commission. So far, a budget of Bt120 billion has been approved for the projects.
"Upon learning about this, Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit warned all provincial governors to not be 'baited by middlemen'," he said.
Pracha said such corruption was commonplace in government projects, though levelling graft allegations against the Interior Ministry and citing his position was damaging. He did not elaborate.
According to reports, Pracha had told Democrat MP Charnchai Issarasenarak, a member of the House sub-committee on budget spending and management, that governors in several provinces earned up to 35 per cent in commission from contractors after securing projects for them.
Meanwhile, PM Yingluck Shinawatra said she would go on a nationwide inspection tour later this month to check on the progress of flood-prevention projects, many of which are believed to be behind schedule. "Projects in headwater areas in the North that need to be completed first have been especially slow because of the red tape," she said. "Completed projects are being audited and evaluated by universities and their reports will be released soon."
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