The Senate committee on anti-corruption has resolved to petition the Office of the Ombudsman for the cancellation of the 350-billion-baht water and flood management projects on the grounds that the government has violated the anti-graft law.
Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul
Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul, the chair of the committee, told a press conference Thursday that the panel had been scrutinising the mega-project in recent months and found clear evidence that the government did not announce the median prices required by section 130/7 of the National Anti-Corruption Act.
The government may also have violated the act by its decision to sign contracts to borrow 324.6-billion-baht from four banks ― the Government Savings Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank ― despite the fact that the Central Administrative Court ordered it to hold public hearings before it starts on the main parts of the scheme.
Sen Rosana also alleged that the the Yingluck Shinawatra administration had spent almost 20 billion baht for a research programme on aquatic animal species which appeared not to involve the water management and flood infrastructure plan, according to the committee’s findings.
As a result of these irregularities, Sen Rosana said, the panel resolved to file a petition with the Ombudsmen next week, seeking cancellation of the entire project to prevent possible subsequent damage.
If the Ombudsmen appeared to be slow to respond or take action, the Senate committee would resort to submitting its request to the Central Administrative Court directly, she said.