The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been asked to probe the cabinet after it freed up a land plot along the Chao Phraya River to build a multi-billion-baht observation tower without calling for bids.
The petition was lodged by Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, via NACC deputy secretary-general Sakchai Methineepisalkul yesterday. According to the petition, the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, abused its power to grant a lease for the four-rai site to build the 4.62-billion-baht tower. It said the NACC should probe the case and forward its recommendation to the attorney-general to seek an indictment with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
The petition also called on the anti-graft body to investigate the finance minister and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee in relation to the matter. The 459-metre tower, which will be developed by the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation, would sit on Treasury Department land, worth 198.41 million baht. The lease was approved by the cabinet last week.
Mr Srisuwan said the lease was granted to the foundation without calling for bids, which he said violated the Private Investments in State Undertakings Act, which indicates bidding involving government-owned land must be open to all interested parties. Although authorities have pointed to the PPP committee's previous announcement that bidding for projects based on government policy are not needed, the Prayut administration did not declare the project before the parliament, which meant the approval is unlikely to be legitimate, Mr Srisuwan said.
An exception could be granted by the finance minister but the projects must be deemed urgent or technologically advanced, and the tower project does not meet these criteria, the activist said.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department said it was prepared to set up a panel to examine the lease and conduct a public hearing for it.