The Defence Ministry has agreed to launch a fresh probe into alleged irregularities at Rajabhakti Park in a bid to clear up any lingering doubts over the one-billion-baht park project.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said he has ordered the setting up of a fact-finding committee to re-investigate the park project in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district. "The panel will probe every military officer implicated in the case, not only the army, but the investigation will not cover civilians," Gen Prawit said.
However, the panel will forward any cases of irregularities involving civilians to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation, he said.
According to the Central Investigation Bureau's findings, an amulet trader allegedly demanded commissions from foundry operators for contracting them to build seven giant statues of Thai kings at the park. Police say the trader is now in Hong Kong.
Gen Prawit said "it is unlikely" that Deputy Defence Minister and former army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr will be investigated but it "depends on the panel". Gen Udomdej is the Rajabhakti Park Foundation chairman.
According to Gen Prawit, the probe panel will not include people involved in the construction of the park. This rules out permanent secretary for defence Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha, younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, since he is a member of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation's committee. Gen Preecha has, however, been assigned by Gen Prawit to set up the new panel but its chairman will be named later.
Gen Prawit said he is considering whether to allow "outsiders" to be observers on the panel to prevent further criticism.
The move to establish a new probe panel comes amid mounting pressure following a press briefing by army commander Theerachai Nakvanich last week that the army's inquiry panel had wrapped up its investigation and found no corruption. Therefore, there was no need for other anti-graft agencies, including the NACC, to investigate the case, the army chief said.
Still, many questions remain unanswered, including the commission fees relating to the building of the statues of the former kings, and the high cost of palm trees and banquet seats. In light of this, Gen Prawit ordered a new panel be formed to put any remaining doubts to rest, said Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantrawanich.
Gen Khongcheep said the Defence Ministry was not trying to drag out the issue by setting up the new panel.
Gen Udomdej nsisted Tuesday the project had been fully transparent. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, meanwhile, Gen Prayut gave assurances that he would not protect or cover up for any military officials involved in alleged irregularities surrounding the park project.
The prime minister said he did not object to inquiries being launched against any suspects, adding that the Defence Ministry would know how best to handle the matter when it launches a new inquiry. Gen Prayut said if any individuals were found to be involved, it would have been a personal wrongdoing, and it would not be fair to blame the army as a whole.
Also on Tuesday, NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said the agency's secretariat is expected to submit information on the park project to the NACC meeting next week.
The NACC's secretariat has been gathering facts on the project for the past two weeks. However, Mr Sansern said he did not expect the army to provide any information on the case.
Meanwhile, the Resistant Citizen anti-coup activist group filed a complaint Tuesday that asks the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to take legal action against those involved in alleged corruption in the Rajabhakti Park project. Deputy CSD commander Pol Lt Col Siam Boonsom received the complaint.
Pansak Srithep, a member of the group, said the group wanted the army chief to clarify details and evidence regarding the costs of palm trees, expensive banquet seats and donations to the project, and the commissions the army said it took from the amulet trader.
