No irregularities found on Deputy PM's trip to Hawaii

BANGKOK, Oct 8 (TNA) -- No irregularities were found on a recent trip to Hawaii for a meeting on ASEAN plus the United States Defence Ministers by Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and his accompanied delegates, said Pisit Leelavachiropas, director of Office of the Auditor General of Thailand. Gen Prawit and his delegates travelled by chartered Thai Airways International (THAI)'s flight and attended the meeting held in Hawaii between September 29-October 2. Total expenses from chartering the plane were 20.9 million baht. In an attempt to calm down public uproar on the high expenses in the country, Mr Pisit said total delegates at the time of leaving Bangkok stood at 38 but the number increased to 41 when returning home due to the returning of three officials who left for Hawaii earlier to make preparations for the meeting. Reiterating that there was not much different on the expenses if Gen Prawit and his delegates travelled by commercial flight to Hawaii which could create more inconvenient as they had to change flight, Mr Pisit said no irregularities found on the trip and he would forward the finding to the State Audit Commission for its consideration next Monday. (TNA)