AI Project Scandal: 1.6B Baht Deal Involving 'Boy-Bee', 'Tao Bin'

MGR Online•Politics•2h ago

Reader Briefing

A controversial 1.6 billion Baht AI upskilling project is under fire for alleged cronyism, while a leaked chat message "Help me with the money" suggests political motivations behind the transfer of Ministry of Interior officials before the election.

•A 1,621 million Baht AI upskilling project involving 'Look Nok' Chaiyachok is attracting criticism for its procurement process.
•Companies linked to 'Boy-Bee' and 'Tao Bin' were involved in the price bidding for the AI project.
•A leaked LINE chat message, 'Help me with the money,' allegedly from an Interior Ministry official, raises questions about political influence on official transfers before the election.

Overview

•The 'Thailand AI Passport' project has a high value of 1,650 million Baht, aiming to upskill 5 million Thais.
•Minister Nok-Chaiyachok Chidchob, Minister of DE, is leading the AI upskilling project.
•Companies 'Boy Sky' and 'B Plan B' were identified as the winners, raising concerns about 'insiders.'
•Fort Corporation, a major shareholder of 'Tao Bin' beverage vending machines, was among the three private companies used for price surveying.
•Further investigation by 'Next News' revealed that the same three private firms also surveyed prices for a previous 5,413 million Baht Ministry of Higher Education project.
•The previous Ministry of Higher Education project was halted due to alleged irregularities.
•A leaked LINE chat message, "Help me with the money," between the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration and the Phuket Provincial Governor is central to allegations of political favoritism in official transfers.
•Following a visit to Phuket to address beach encroachment issues, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the transfer of five provincial officials, citing 'for the benefit of the state.'

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Key Quotes

Rungruang Thimabut

""Help me with the money""

“ช่วยน้ำเงินด้วย”

Key Entities

Person

Nok-Chaiyachok Chidchob(นก-ไชยชนก ชิดชอบ)ℹ️

Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE) and son of 'Ne' (Newin Chidchob).

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Mr. Nu(เสี่ยหนู)

Nickname for Anutin Charnvirakul.

Ne(เน)

Nickname for Newin Chidchob, the patriarch of the Buriram house and Pheu Thai party.

Suphamas Isarapakdi(ศุภมาส อิศรภักดี)

Former Minister of Higher Education from the Pheu Thai party.

Yotsanun Wongsawat(ยศชนัน วงศ์สวัสดิ์)

Current Minister of Higher Education from the Pheu Thai party.

Teacher Chen(อาจารย์เชน)

Nickname for Yotsanun Wongsawat, the current Minister of Higher Education.

Phuket Provincial Governor(ปลัดจังหวัดภูเก็ต)

The official involved in a leaked LINE chat investigation.

Naruecha Kosayasilpvilai(นฤชา โฆษาศิวิไลซ์)

Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, implicated in the leaked LINE chat.

Pattarapong Suppakorn(ภัทรพงศ์ ศุภักษร)

Attorney 'Aun Buriram,' who filed a complaint regarding the leaked LINE chat to the parliamentary committee.

Attorney Aun Buriram(ทนายอั๋น บุรีรัมย์)

Nickname for Pattarapong Suppakorn, an attorney who is actively involved in political legal challenges.

Phumtham Wechayachai(ภูมิธรรม เวชยชัย)ℹ️

Minister of Interior during the period when Pheu Thai moved from opposition to government.

Organization

Boy Sky(บอย สกาย)

One of the two winners of the AI project, described as being within the 'blue regime' network.

B Plan B(บี แพลนบี)

One of the two winners of the AI project, described as being within the 'blue regime' network.

Next News(เน็กซ์นิวส์)

News agency that investigated the AI project's procurement details.

Fort Corporation Public Company Limited(บริษัท ฟอร์ท คอร์ปอเรชั่น จำกัด (มหาชน))

Major shareholder of 'Tao Bin' vending machines and 'Boonterm' top-up machines, involved in the AI project's price surveying.

Tao Bin(เต่าบิน)

Brand name for vending machines owned by Fort Vending, a subsidiary of Fort Corporation.

Boonterm(บุญเติม)

Brand name for top-up machines owned by Fort Fortune, a subsidiary of Fort Corporation.

Turnkey Communication Service Public Company Limited(บริษัท เทิร์นคีย์ คอมมูนิเคชั่น เซอร์วิส จำกัด (มหาชน))

One of the three private companies used for price surveying in both the AI project and a previous Ministry of Higher Education project.

United Information Highway Company Limited(บริษัท ยูไนเต็ด อินฟอร์เมชั่น ไฮเวย์ จำกัด)

One of the three private companies used for price surveying in both the AI project and a previous Ministry of Higher Education project.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️

National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Department of Provincial Administration(กรมการปกครอง)

A department within the Ministry of Interior responsible for provincial administration.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

A political party whose Member of Parliament filed a complaint regarding the leaked LINE chat.

Committee on Political Development(คณะกรรมาธิการการพัฒนาการเมืองฯ)

A parliamentary committee that received a complaint about the leaked LINE chat.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The court that will rule on the validity of the election and related complaints.

Ministry of Higher Education(กระทรวง อว.)

The ministry that previously handled the 'Individual Skill/Credit Portfolio System' project.

Ministry of DE(กระทรวงดีอี)

Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, currently led by Minister Nok-Chaiyachok Chidchob.

Ministry of Interior(มหาดไทย)

The ministry involved in the transfer of provincial officials, with Anutin Charnvirakul as minister.

Policy

Individual Skill/Credit Portfolio System(ระบบแฟ้มสะสมทักษะรายบุคคล (Skill/Credit Portfolio))

A previous 5,413 million Baht project by the Ministry of Higher Education that was halted due to irregularities.

Thailand AI Passport(ไทยแลนด์เอไอ พาสปอร์ต)

The official name of the AI upskilling project being criticized.

Place

Bang Tao Beach(หาดบางเทา)

A beach in Phuket where Anutin Charnvirakul inspected issues of beach encroachment.

Freedom Beach(หาดฟรีด้อม)

A beach in Phuket where Anutin Charnvirakul inspected issues of beach encroachment.