Thailand’s opposition Pheu Thai party petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) this morning (Wednesday), accusing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as chairman of the State Enterprise Policy Committee, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit, and a few senior officials of the state-run Public Warehouse Organization (PWO), of corruption in the procurement of 112 billion baht worth of medical gloves.
The party alleges that the controversial procurement deal, between the PWO and a private supplier, had caused damage to the state, estimated at about 2.4 billion baht.
Besides the petition letter, the party also submitted 47 items of evidence to the NACC, including three hours of video footage featuring a meeting of senior PWO officials, during which the PWO chairman, Suchart Detchaksema, allegedly implicated the prime minister and the commerce minister of involvement in the deal.
Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanthornruangthong said he expects the NACC to investigate the deal and the role of the people involved in it and, if it is proved that the accusations have grounds, the case will be forwarded to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders for consideration.
The opposition party also plans to petition the NACC to investigate former Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan, while the Thai Civilize Party has threatened to ask the NACC to probe the conduct of Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
