PUBLISHED: 7 Jun 2024 at 18: 58
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt suspended the 40 million baht procurement program for gym equipment to be installed at three sports facilities under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ).
According to Mr. Chadchart, 12.11 million baht of products was purchased for the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Min Buri city, and 11.01 million ringgit of products was purchased for the Mitr Maitree Sports Center in Din Daeng area.
The Solid Thailand Anti-Corruption Club lodged a complaint following which it claimed on Wednesday that it had discovered anomalies at seven different BMA sports facilities and that it had received at least 103.2 million baht in damages.
Mr. Chadchart gave the BMA’s Anti-Corruption Committee the order on Friday to look into the seven centers in issue.
If any improper practices are discovered, the BMA may send the results to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, he said. He added that it will work on the research with the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the State Audit Office.
According to Somboon Homnan, assistant BMA continuous minister, the sporting products has already been installed at four BMA areas.
Due to the investigation, the other three centers were unable to deliver the necessary tools.
The Powerful Thailand Anti-Corruption Club reported on Facebook on Tuesday that two BMA sports centers had purchased extremely pricey equipment, including a twisting bike for 484 000 dollars and an electric treadmill for 759, 000 dollars.
The following morning, it claimed to have discovered more irregularities at seven additional BMA sports centers, resulting in damage worth a total of 103.2 million ringgit.
Sanon Wangsrangboon, the lieutenant governor of Bangkok, stated on Instagram that the government’s involvement in any procurement investigation was welcomed.
Mr. Sanon claimed that making the public aware of the operational funds spending helped with the operational advancement because the community can now protect the taxes they have paid to the state.
However, the anomalies in the local government’s outsourcing approach sullied BMA officials ‘ good intentions towards the town, adding that those irregularities were “elephants in the room”, Mr Sanon said.