NACC Ousts Ubon Officials Over Collusion in 26 Road Projects

Matichon•Politics•18d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has indicted prominent individuals, including former Ubon Ratchathani Mayor Rojana Kalptinan and MP Kreing Kalptinan, for alleged collusion in a scheme to divide 26 road construction projects, totaling approximately 43 million THB, to favor relatives and associates.

•The NACC has indicted former Ubon Ratchathani Mayor Rojana Kalptinan and former MP Kreing Kalptinan for alleged bid-rigging in 26 road construction projects.
•The scheme involved splitting projects into smaller contracts to circumvent competitive bidding processes, aiming to award them to businesses owned by relatives and associates.
•The total budget for these projects amounted to 43,221,000 THB.
•Investigations revealed a pattern of family members and their companies being awarded contracts through manipulated bidding processes.

Overview

•On Dec 14, 2005, Mr. Kreing Kalptinan instructed the design and estimation of road projects each under 2,000,000 THB to avoid competitive bidding.
•Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan approved the design of 26 projects totaling 43,221,000 THB, dividing them into smaller contracts.
•On Jan 20, 2006, Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan signed a letter submitting 11 projects to the Department of Local Administration.
•On Jan 30, 2006, Mr. Pongsak Muulsarn submitted 15 projects to the Department of Local Administration.
•Mr. Kreing Kalptinan actively intervened and coordinated budget allocations with the Department of Local Administration.
•On Feb 17, 2006, the municipality received notification of budget allocation for 18 projects totaling 29,997,000 THB.
•Despite objections from technical and financial departments about circumventing e-auction rules, Mr. Kreing Kalptinan insisted on using the 'สอบราคา' (price quotation) method for 18 projects.
•Following a compromise, 11 projects requiring e-auction and 7 projects for price quotation were processed, with related companies bidding and winning.
•On May 15, 2006, municipal officials submitted requests for price quotations for 6 additional projects.
•Mr. Kreing Kalptinan, after losing his MP status, and Mr. Kan Kalptinan, then a Senator, continued to influence the bidding process for these 6 projects.
•The NACC found Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan and Mr. Pongsak Muulsarn liable for criminal offenses related to bid-rigging and violating the Municipal Act.
•Mr. Kreing Kalptinan was found to have criminal liability for aiding and abetting, both during and after his tenure as an MP.
•Mr. Kan Kalptinan was found to have criminal liability for aiding and abetting, both before and during his tenure as a Senator.
•The case findings are to be forwarded to the Attorney General for prosecution in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Office.

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Key Quotes

Surapong Intarathavorn (NACC Spokesperson)

"The NACC committee resolved to indict Mrs. Rojana Kalptinan and associates for dividing construction projects to avoid competitive bidding and unfairly restrict competition."

คณะกรรมการ ป.ป.ช. มีมติชี้มูลความผิด นางรจนา กัลป์ตินันท์ เมื่อครั้งดำรงตำแหน่งนายกเทศมนตรีนครอุบลราชธานี กับพวก กรณีแบ่งจ้างงานโครงการก่อสร้างปรับปรุงขยายผิวจราจร เพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงการจ้างด้วยวิธีประกวดราคา โดยมุ่งหมายมิให้มีการแข่งขันราคาอย่างเป็นธรรม

Kreing Kalptinan

"Mr. Kreing Kalptinan refused and ordered the bidding for all 18 projects to proceed."

นายเกรียง กัลป์ตินันท์ ไม่ยอมและสั่งให้จัดจ้างโดยวิธีสอบราคาทั้ง 18 โครงการต่อไป

Key Entities

Organization

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️

The National Anti-Corruption Commission, responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases in Thailand.

Nakhon Ubon Ratchathani Municipality(เทศมนตรีนครอุบลราชธานี)

The municipal government of Ubon Ratchathani city, involved in the road construction projects that are the subject of the NACC investigation.

Department of Local Administration(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น)

A government department responsible for supporting local administration, which allocated budgets for the Ubon Ratchathani road projects.

Ubon Montree Construction Limited Partnership(ห้างหุ้นส่วนจำกัด อุบลมนตรีก่อสร้าง)

A company owned by Kan Kalptinan and Rattika Kalptinan, allegedly favored in the bid-rigging for road construction projects.

Ubon Prasert Limited Partnership(ห้างหุ้นส่วนจำกัด อุบลประเสริฐ)