Weera Somkhamsing probes vocational solar cell budget corruption

MGR Online•General•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Weera Somkhamsing requested the Ministry of Education to investigate suspected corruption in solar cell installation projects for vocational colleges.

•Weera Somkhamsing, Chairman of the People's Network Against Corruption, met with the Ministry of Education on September 10.
•The complaint concerns solar cell installation projects under the Office of the Vocational Education Commission between fiscal years 2023 and 2026.
•Allegations include the splitting of budgets into amounts under 500,000 baht per site to enable specific procurement methods.
•Reports indicate that at least 230 technical colleges received equipment lacking batteries despite budget allocations.

Overview

•On September 10 at 10:30 AM, Weera Somkhamsing arrived at the Ministry of Education to follow up and request a meeting with executives.
•Tatiyapat Pitisethphan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, acted as the representative to receive the complaint from Weera Somkhamsing.
•Weera Somkhamsing alleged that budgets were split into amounts not exceeding 500,000 baht per location to allow school directors to use a specific procurement method.
•Weera Somkhamsing claimed that in at least 230 technical colleges, equipment was not delivered according to specifications, specifically lacking batteries.
•Weera Somkhamsing stated that procurement companies in various provinces and the Isan region, such as Bueng Kan province, are linked to local political influence groups or 'Ban Yai'.
•Weera Somkhamsing stated that he has not yet submitted the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to allow the Ministry of Education to provide evidence for clarification first.
•Tatiyapat Pitisethphan stated he will report the information to the Ministry of Education executives to order the appointment of a fact-finding committee.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on MGR Online (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: MGR Online (Original)

View Original Article

Key Entities

Person

Weera Somkhamsing(วีระ สมความคิด)

Chairman of the People's Network Against Corruption who raised allegations of solar cell budget corruption.

Tatiyapat Pitisethphan(ตติยภัทร์ ปิติเศรษฐพันธุ์)

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education who represented the executives in receiving the complaint.

Organization

Ministry of Education(กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ)ℹ️

The government ministry requested to clarify and investigate procurement irregularities in vocational projects.

People's Network Against Corruption(เครือข่ายประชาชนต้านคอร์รัปชัน)

The organization headed by Weera Somkhamsing.

Office of the Vocational Education Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการอาชีวศึกษา)

The agency under which the educational institutions involved in the solar cell projects are affiliated.

National Anti-Corruption Commission(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ)

The agency referred to as the P.P.C. where Weera Somkhamsing may submit evidence if the Ministry of Education cannot clarify the doubts.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)

The abbreviated name for the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Place

Bueng Kan(บึงกาฬ)ℹ️

A province in the Isan region mentioned as having companies linked to local political influence groups.