EC probing actions of previous members
The Election Commission (EC) is investigating irregularities involving its former members under the chairmanship of Vasana Puemlarp in connection with last year's botched general election.
The investigation has been prompted by the Office of the Auditor-General, which found cause last month to suspect graft violations. In her report, Auditor-General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka identified three suspected wrongdoings. First, the previous EC authorised the disbursement of Bt1.12 million but had no records to show how it was spent. Second, it bypassed the normal bidding process in awarding many contracts for electoral preparations, without justification. Third, it suspiciously hired a printing firm that had no track record in the printing industry to supply the ballot papers. It might also have helped the firm to evade paying value-added tax on the contract. Acting on Jaruvan's report, EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn set up an 11-member fact-finding panel before moving on to the indictment stage. The panel confirmed Jaruvan's findings in a meeting on Tuesday and has scheduled another meeting after the Songkran holiday to determine the extent of the damage caused by Vasana and the other ex-commissioners.
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