Thailand's DSI ferrets out
corruption in irrigation project
By Jon Fernquest 
Critics like Senator Rosana
Tositrakul have lashed out at the controversial Bangkok city bus leasing
scheme for not being
transparent.Daily maintenance fees at over 2,000 baht per bus for brand new buses appear to be excessive. Is money somehow being siphoned off to politicians and their cronies? (Read article).
Was the awarding of the contract transparent? Or was the contract handed over to someone as a political favour?
Rumours abound. Even the collapse of SEC Auto Sales and Service (SECC) earlier this year was tied to the bus leasing scheme via rumour (Read article).
An NESDB study scheduled for next month will compare leasing with purchasing the buses and should clear up the matter (Read article). Note also though, that in the past projects have been sent to the NESDB to delay them or make them disappear completely (Read article).
Finance Minister Korn yesterday suggested directly funding the buses with bonds to avoid the use of government funds and further bloating the government budget. This could make the bus scheme more acceptable (Read article).
Tricky corruption techniques?
A frontpage Bangkok Post story today reveals one tricky way that corrupt government officials might use to make money off of irrigation contracts.Investigators from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) disguised themselves as prospective bidders for construction material procurement contracts on an irrigation project worth 63 million baht:
The
DSI investigators along with more than 20 prospective
bidders were barred from
filing their tender applications. They were
later offered cash in
return for their cooperation.
A DSI investigator received 45,000 baht. He estimated those involved in the alleged collusion distributed more than 1.3 million baht to prospective bidders who agreed not to file tender documents...
...more than 100 people had requested bid application forms from the irrigation office, but records showed only three or four companies officially took part in the bid.
Irrigation Department chief Chalit Dumrongsak said the March 31 bid had been cancelled. Another round of bidding would be called for the four contracts.
A DSI investigator received 45,000 baht. He estimated those involved in the alleged collusion distributed more than 1.3 million baht to prospective bidders who agreed not to file tender documents...
...more than 100 people had requested bid application forms from the irrigation office, but records showed only three or four companies officially took part in the bid.
Irrigation Department chief Chalit Dumrongsak said the March 31 bid had been cancelled. Another round of bidding would be called for the four contracts.
DSI takes over investigation of murdered mayor
Decentralization of government functions from Bangkok to the provinces is often seen as one way to make government more responsive to local needs. Decentralization, however, is not always the panacea it seems to be.DSI as as central government agency sometimes steps in when local police and witnesses are threatened or under the influence of powerful and dangerous local strongmen. A recent case shows this process in action:
...Justice
Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga yesterday said
he had ordered DSI chief Thawee Sodsong to look into the
unexplained
murders in 2007 of Tha Muang mayor Somjit Kanchanasutthirak and her
deputy Napadol Chindanut.
Mr Pirapan said he suggested that Pol Col Thawee take over the case from local police and send DSI officers to protect witnesses.
His order followed a petition from Somjit's son Woradet Kanchana-anothai, who met Mr Pirapan and told him several witnesses had recently reversed their testimony against the suspected mastermind, Somyos Horthong, a former president of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.
Mr Pirapan said he suggested that Pol Col Thawee take over the case from local police and send DSI officers to protect witnesses.
His order followed a petition from Somjit's son Woradet Kanchana-anothai, who met Mr Pirapan and told him several witnesses had recently reversed their testimony against the suspected mastermind, Somyos Horthong, a former president of the Kanchanaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.
(Photo on right of DSI staff relaxing by playing a little Thai classical music in their free time)
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) - a government agency "commissioned specifically for the surveillance, deterrence, and effective prevention of organized criminal activities that continue to jeopardize the country's economy, social order, national stability, as well as for the eradication of any illicit groups or activities that endanger international security" (Source: DSI Website)
ferret out - search for something difficult to find
critics - people who look for things that are wrong and bad about a project or idea
lashed out - attack angrily
controversial - something that people disagree about a lot and argue about
transparent - visible to the public, not hidden secrets
BMTA (Bangkok Metropolitan Transit Authority) - the government agency in charge of public buses in Bangkok
brand new - completely new
appear to be Y - seems to be Y, Y seems to be true but not sure
excessive - too much
siphoned off money - taken money secretly
cronies - friends and business associates, doing illegal things
awarding of the contract - giving the contract to someone (an opportunity to make money)
a political favour - using the power of political office to help someone (perhaps because they helped you in the past or gave you money for your political campaign)
rumours - news passed around that may or may not be true
rumours abound - there are many rumours
X tied to Y - X depends on Y, X only happens if Y
NESDB (National Economic and Social Development Board or "Sa-pa-pat") - Thai government planning agency for economic development, creates five year plans with an agenda of: 1. Alleviation of Poverty and Income Distribution problems, 2. Enhancing Thailand’s Competitiveness, 3. Promoting Social Capital Development, 4. Promoting Sustainable Development (See Wikipedia)
clear up the matter - solve the problems in the situation
bloating - making very large
make acceptable - change so that people agree with the project (no longer disagree)
make money off of Y - gain profit from project Y
disguised - identity is hidden, don't know who or what it really is
prospective Y - may be y in the future
prospective bidders - may offer to do the project for a certain amount of money
procurement - buying things
barred from Y - prevented from doing Y
a tender - a formal offer to supply goods or a service at a given price (See glossary)
tender applications, tender documents - the papers and documents that make an official offer to buy or sell
filing their tender applications, file tender documents - presenting the documents with an official order to buy or sell
cooperation - working together towards a goal
offered cash in return for their cooperation - paid to get them to work together towards a goal
alleged - claimed but not yet proven
collusion - working together for some illegal goal
officially took part in the bid (or bidding) -
a round of bidding - one period of time (out of many) that people make offers to buy or sell something
decentralization - when an activity is controlled or governed from the widespread places where it takes place (rather from the center)
a panacea - a cure for all ills, something that will solve all problems
steps in - intervene, stop someone from doing an activity and do it yourself
look into - check out, investigate
take over the case - start dealing with a legal case (receive from someone else)
a petition -a formal request made to a court of law for an action to be taken
suspected Y - Y is believed to have done something wrong
mastermind - the person who planned something complex
(Source: Bangkok Post, DSI inquiry halts B63m project, KING-OUA LAOHONG, 5/06/2009, link)
