Prayut hit with graft claims

Prayut hit with graft claims

The opposition on Tuesday filed a petition against suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and two cabinet ministers for malfeasance over alleged graft in two projects under the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation (MHESRI).

Led by Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangtong, the opposition parties submitted two separate petitions to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

One was against Gen Prayut and Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Minister Anek Laothamatas while the other was against Gen Prayut and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

These petitions were lodged as a follow-up to the allegations raised by the opposition parties in the previous censure debate.

In the first petition, they asked the anti-corruption agency to investigate Gen Prayut and Mr Anek over the spending of funds worth almost 400 million baht by the MHESRI.

The budget was authorised for training projects that were neither urgent nor met the terms of reference as specified in the project.

Also accused of being involved in irregularities were three executives from Rajamangala University of Technology Isan and two politicians.

In the other petition, Gen Prayut and Mr Jurin were accused of neglect in their oversight of the procurement of rubber gloves during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The opposition alleged that the premier and Mr Jurin failed to freeze two billion baht of budget money which was misappropriated and laundered, and thus caused damage to the state.

Mr Prasert said opposition parties were also collecting evidence of graft against other ministers.

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