Kongsak denies graft in purchase of fighters
 The Nation
December 11 , 2005 - Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana yesterday denied involvement in an alleged scam to take a commission on the planned procurement of Russian fighter jets when he was the Air Force commander-in-chief.
“I have filed my asset declaration with the National Counter Corruption Commission and would welcome any graft investigations in order to clear my name,” he said.
Kongsak was reacting to the allegation by government critic Sondhi Limthongkul that he had suspiciously endorsed a Thai broker for the Bt35-billion deal, from which about Bt3.5 billion in commission could be spread around.
In his mobile talk show at Lumpini Park on Friday Sondhi claimed that Kongsak had pressured the Russian supplier of Su-30MK fighter jets to change its Thai agent from Benjawan Benjaratanaphorn to his man, Ekachai Thamvara-nukhupt.
“It is a fact that on my watch the Air Force did not buy any new aircraft. I believe speculation on the Russian fighter jets stems from the preparations for procurement,” Kongsak said in his rebuttal.
He said he would open his financial records for checks by the NCCC and the Office of the Auditor-General. He also dismissed Sondhi’s claim that part of the commission payment had gone towards new homes for his son and daughter.
“I did not pay for the construction of new homes for my children. What I am doing is helping my children to meet their monthly mortgage payments,” he said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his main opposition party would intensify its scrutiny of government performance in the lead-up to a censure debate in May.
“Opposition members have suspected myriad graft violations involving government leaders,” he said.
Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said Sondhi’s fiery attacks were making a dent in the government’s credibility but were not yet serious enough to cause its downfall.
“I still believe the government will last its four-year term if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra can make himself speak less, work more and truly fight corruption,” he said.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Adisorn Piengket yesterday made a veiled criticism of Sondhi by saying that a self-serving journalist was bent on stirring up trouble in order to promote vested interests.
“The government is not fast losing public trust as alleged by its opponents. Even now the Thai Rak Thai Party is more popular in the Northeast than the Democrat Party,” he said.
Government MP Suthichai Chan-arak meanwhile ruled out speculation that his Pho Mod Dum faction was pressuring the ruling party for a Cabinet seat.
“My faction leader Suchart Tancharoen is presently the deputy House speaker and has no ambition to become a minister,” he said.
Suthichai said he had been as surprised as the public when Sondhi broke the news on the Russian aircraft deal.
“Kongsak owes it the ruling party to explain himself quickly in order to pre-empt further damage,” he said.
Reacting to Sondhi’s suspicions about his control over lottery revenues, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that earnings from the sale of two- and three-digit lottery tickets were earmarked for the education of underprivileged children.
The One District One Scholarship project to help 700 children to further their studies abroad and another 200 locally is one example of charity made possible by the lottery earnings, he said.
The ruling party cancelled its weekly press conference scheduled for today. Party deputy spokesman Jatuporn Phromphan said the Thai Rak Thai wanted to avoid fanning the war of words with its opponents. |
