Corrections chief hits out at allegations of irregularities in construction of new prisons

[webfact]

Corrections chief hits out at allegations of irregularities in construction of new prisons

By The Nation

 

File Photo

 

The Corrections Department chief on Sunday insisted that the e-biddings held for the construction of four new prisons were held as per rules and with transparency, after an anonymous letter to the Justice Ministry made accusations of collusion and raised questions about security equipment specifications.

 

The department is constructing four prisons -- in Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung provinces. 

 

Department director-general Pol Colonel Narat Sawettanan said those who had failed to submit winning bids might be using political influence to stymie the projects.

 

The allegations had prompted Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin to send a team to inspect the 150-rai construction site of Huai Pong Prison in Rayong on Saturday.

 

Narat explained that the projects involved building construction and security equipment installation (such as CCTV, high-voltage electrical fence and cellphone signal scammer devices). Bidders could present various security equipment brands for the department to choose from. He said that some bidders might have held the wrong notion that those proposing the lowest price would be the winners, ignoring the department's need for effective security systems. 

 

He affirmed that the e-biddings for the construction projects were done according to the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act BE 2560 (2017) and related regulations. He insisted the process had been undertaken with transparency and aimed at prioritising the state benefits.

 

He said the department had not yet received any order from the Justice Ministry to explain itself about the allegations. He warned that a report about alleged irregularities, which painted the department in a negative light and caused department executives and personnel to become disheartened, might be an attempt to mislead society.

 

He said such an anonymous letter may be an attempt by some people who had not won the bids to use their political connections to have the construction projects cancelled. "I don't want anyone to become a tool of this gang," he said.

 

"I've maintained a policy of being clean, honest and fair in running the department. I've vowed not to buy/sell positions or do anything that can be regarded as a conflict of interest nor let subordinates take advantage," Narat affirmed. "I personally have high respect for the justice minister so I would like to propose to him to review the guidelines for political officials and civil servants in working together with respect for one another rather than breaking the news to the media without first conducting an internal inquiry and allowing the accused officials to explain the allegations properly."

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374933

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-19

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[bangkokfrog]

The Corrections Chief "hit out" because no-one likes to be "caught out".

[Thaiwrath]

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

He insisted the process had been undertaken with transparency and aimed at prioritising the state benefits.

I'd be highly skeptical that any winning bid for Government contracts were aimed at prioritising the state benefits, rather prioritising high up politician's benefits.

[colinneil]

Four new prisons were built according to the rules and with  transparency.

The poor man is delusional if he expects anybody to believe that.

[sammieuk1]

The corrections dept. is very busy all the time trying to make at least one number add up especially when buying a signal scammer that are in plentiful supply here ???? 

[RotBenz8888]

Reserve a suit in the prison for this guy. 

[Cadbury]

Does anyone seriously believe there is even one single Thai government enterprise that is scam/corruption free?

I suggest that such practices are now having a serious negative impact on the economy and foreign manufacturing investment. Such an effect may take a long time to build up but eventually it does and then it will bite and bite hard.

Thai children are taught from a young age that corruption is an acceptable practice. They see schools directors and teachers doing it in front of their very eyes. viz students lunch funding being misappropriated and teachers stealing their temple scholarship money. And that would be the tip of the school corruption iceberg.

[hotchilli]

Tip of the ice-berg of many departmental corruption issues...

It will never end because for someone to reach a position to do something about it you will have had to be corrupt to get there. that will then be used to bring you down.

Eventually it will be the downfall of Thailand.

 

[RichardColeman]

More criminals involved in the build than it will hold

[marko kok prong]

Yes My cousins and Brother got the contracts cos they are experts,and came in with the lowest bid.I got no commision at all.

[mikebell]

Follow the money.  Billions of baht leave Thailand for off-shore accounts buying dollars at knockdown prices; one reason for the baht's apparent strength.