Irregularities found in BMA's Bt39.5m New Year illuminations

BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) - The state-run Office of the Auditor General (OAG) reports that it has found bid rigging with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's New Year illuminations and will ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to prosecute concerned BMA authorities, including Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas announced the finding on May 3, saying that the State Audit Commission has concluded that the Bangkok governor and eight other BMA officials had unfairly contracted a company for 39.5 million baht to install the “Motif of Light” illuminations at the City Hall to promote tourism in the capital during the New Year Festival 2016. Pisit stated that the irregularities had begun with a bidding contest for the project and BMA had improperly used its contingency fund to pay the contractor. Stressing on transparency and straightforwardness for the probe, Pisit acknowledged the State Audit Commission has also found that three contenders, namely Curio, Sansang and Jipatha, were actually the same party. Besides, BMA had not studied a median price by itself but adopting the median price of Jipatha Co. According to the OAG chief, his office will propose to Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda to launch an investigation against the Bangkok governor's action and take disciplinary and criminal actions against the other BMA officials held responsible, while also proposing to NACC to prosecute them. (TNA)