Thread: NACC needs to further investigate Newin case

NACC needs to further investigate Newin case
October 9, 2010


Newin

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said yesterday that its investigation panel had found some grounds to the allegations of collusion related to a food-examination laboratory, but that it could not make any charges because it needed more evidence.

The NACC yesterday released the results of its panel meeting on Thursday regarding veteran politician Newin Chidchob, who was deputy agriculture and agricultural cooperatives minister at the time, and associates allegedly colluding over the construction and procurement of equipment for the Central Lab, which examines agricultural and food products.

The investigation found that the NACC did have the authority to investigate cases involving state officials allegedly colluding with private companies. However, NACC said many more issues related to the case needed to be studied and that a panel, led by member Methi Krongkaew, had been given the job.

The issues that NACC still has to consider include the status of the staff. Though the Finance Ministry holds a 49 per cent stake in the agency, with the rest held by the Office to Promote Small and Medium Enterprises, its officials are still state officials according to the law, the NACC statement said.

Another issue to be discussed is whether the project bids had been rigged. The panel members split between seeing only private companies' staff violating the law and whether state officials conspired, the statement said.

nationmultimedia.com

Does it really matter. This guy, one of the most influential forces within politics over the last few years, is banned from involvement in politics, so...