The Assets Examination Committee has initially concluded that Suparut Kawatkul, permanent secretary for finance, might have failed to do his duty honestly regarding the two- and three-digit lotteries.

Acting finance minister Sommai Phasee yesterday said he would consult the new finance minister about the management of the ministry after the AEC moved against several politicians and bureaucrats accused of mishandling lotteries during the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

The AEC announced on Tuesday that it would set up a sub-committee to investigate 32 members of Thaksin's former Cabinet and 17 directors of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) to determine whether they violated criminal and civil laws and has caused damage to public funds.

Sommai said the AEC has not yet charged those under suspicion, so Suparat, in his capacity as chairman of the board of the GLO, could still work at the ministry.

"So far, this is only the result of fact-finding by the AEC. The AEC has to further investigate the alleged wrongdoers," said Sommai.

When asked about the reshuffle at the Finance Ministry and the possibility of removing Suparut from his post, Sommai said he would consult the new finance minister first.

However, Sommai believed that Suparut would not conceal documents or try to object to the investigation. "The AEC has already taken all relevant documents from the ministry," he added.

He ruled out the potential problem of the concerned state agencies not lodging a complaint because Suparut chaired the board of the GLO. Sommai said the Finance Ministry deputy permanent secretary could endorse complaints to be lodged with the AEC. "Who will sign the complaint is just technical issue. There is not really a big problem,'' he said.

Former finance minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula fired Sirote Swasdipanich, former director-general of the Revenue Department, and four other senior officials after the National Counter Corruption Commission charged them with failing to collect taxes from members of Shinawatra's family.

Sommai admitted that poor governance in the public sector had rocked the bureaucracy. "It is not only the Finance Ministry in trouble, but also other ministries," he said.

To reform the public sector was the duty of those who have more power than him, he added.

In a related development, Som-mai said management of state enterprises must be improved as they play a significant role in public investment. He said increasing financial rewards for directors of state enterprises may improve their performance. Sommai said he previously discussed with Pridiyathorn a plan to increase the meeting fee for directors to Bt20,000 or Bt30,000. The current rate is less than Bt10,000 for state enterprises whose financial position is not strong.

Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang insisted the former cabinet's resolution on the two- and three-digit lottery scheme, endorsed by the Thaksin government, did not violate any law. He said the scheme was part of the government's policy.

Wichit Chaitrong,

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation