Letter backs ministry official sent to inactive post

Permanent secretary Virasak Futrakul issued an open letter to officials at the Legal Affairs Department to give moral support to Virachai Plasai, whom he said had worked with honesty and integrity.

Virachai has shown his diplomatic skills and talents in negotiations with Laos and Cambodia to protect the national interests of the country, he said in the letter.

"He will work well in his new position [ambassador attached to the ministry] as a legal adviser to the permanent secretary, and he is the model for all staff at the Legal Affairs Department," Virasak added.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama insisted yesterday that Virachai's surprise transfer was the right decision and had nothing to do with the CTX bomb-detector corruption scandal.

"The reshuffle was made for appropriateness. I will take responsibility for my decision," he said.

Noppadon also said that Virachai's replacement, Krit Kraichitti from the Economic Affairs Department, was the right person since he was a former director of the Legal Affairs Department.

The Cabinet endorsed the officials' moves on Tuesday.

A ministry source said Virachai was transferred to an inactive post because he had refused to give to Noppadon a copy of documents concerning the purchasing contract for CTX bomb-detection equipment, which the Foreign Ministry had translated for the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon yesterday said the opposition party believed the transfer was politically motivated.

"We looked into the matter and discovered that even if there were no transfers, there would be no impact on the ministry's work. So the excuse of appropriateness is unconvincing," he said.

The AEC has been investigating a corruption charge against ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his associates over the purchase to the CTX bomb detectors.

Noppadon is a former spokesman and personal lawyer of Thaksin.

The junta-installed AEC will make the final decision on Monday whether to indict Thaksin and his associates over the corruption case.

However, Noppadon said the motivation behind his decision to move Virachai was an internal matter for the ministry.

"I don't want to disclose inside information which could damage our ministry's reputation, but I can guarantee the reshuffle has nothing to do with the CTX case," he said.