A Pheu Thai Party lawyer has petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to take aim at former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his cabinet ministers for approving the purchase of the army's controversial 340-million baht aerial patrol project which included a costly blimp.
Ruangkrai Leekitwattana lodged the petition with the anti-graft agency on Monday.
He said Mr Abhisit and his cabinet members in 2009 approved for the project a budget reserved for emergency requirements, which was illegitimate as this was not an urgent issue.
The project had not earlier been approved in principle by the cabinet according to the process required when more than 100 million baht of the budget is used to fund a project, the lawyer said.
This is a new issue which the NACC should look into, he noted.
According to Mr Ruangkrai, this situation differs from the NACC's rejection of a petition to probe former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban's approval of the airship purchase on the grounds that it was too expensive.
The lawyer said Mr Abhisit and his cabinet ministers, who approved the allocation of the central budget for the project on March 10, 2009, need to be held accountable.
He said he would rather focus on Mr Abhisit, Mr Suthep and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who was then defence minister, taking responsibility for the scheme.
The blimp, which went into service in 2009, was decommissioned only eight years later.
The decommissioning was confirmed by army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad early this month.
The airship was intended to support security operations in the deep South at a time when casualties among civilians and soldiers were running high, according to the army chief. However, it seldom took to the air and was beset by technical problems.
Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas has insisted the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) will press ahead with the investigation into the aerial patrol project, though he himself had to end his role as the auditor-general Monday.
Deputy Director-General Pornchai Jumroonpanichkul will take on the role of acting auditor-general from Tuesday, based on a Section 44 order invoked by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Mr Pisit said the investigation would wrap up within a month.
NACC chairman Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit insisted his agency is ready to look into the purchase for the sake of transparency, in line with Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda's demand for a probe.
The anti-graft agency will look into whether there is new evidence which could suggest the project caused damage to the state.
Also on Monday, Gen Prawit has instructed Defence Ministry officials and armed forces chiefs to attach importance to the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017, as well as other relevant legislation, when mulling purchases. He was speaking at a meeting of the National Defence Council.
"Everything should be transparent and ready for scrutiny to ward off mistakes and damages," said Gen Prawit.
More power for project procurement has now been given to the permanent secretary for defence, the supreme commander and chiefs of the armed forces, as well as project leaders, he added.
In addition, Gen Chalermchai has signed an order assigning duties to his assistants, the army chief of staff as well as deputies of the chief of staff.
Assistant army chief Apirat Kongsompong, according to an army source, has been assigned to take care of activities related to army logistics and special tasks.
Gen Apirat will also be in charge of project procurement.
Gen Apirat is said to have close ties with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
He played a significant role in the May 22, 2014 coup when he was in charge of the 1st Division, which was a key unit in the putsch.