Thai military bogged down by questions over graft. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s prime minister, has echoed many of his compatriots in deploring the levels of corruption in society. But the military itself has been deeply embroiled for years in both individual and institutional scandals that have triggered questions over possible graft. It has denied wrongdoing in any of the procurement cases. Sep 2014: three current and former navy officers detained in Cambodia after allegedly transporting more than $7m in counterfeit US currency across the border from Thailand. Jul 2014: senior army general arrested on suspicion of extorting money from street vendors in Bangkok’s Patpong red-light district. Jul 2014: Thai navy launches state-of-the-art submarine squadron centre, complete with simulator. There is just one problem: the military has no submarines. 2009: military and other agencies come under the spotlight over purchase of more than 700 GT-200 bomb detectors from a British conman at a cost of well over $20,000 each. senior officers persist in claiming the devices, self-evidently hunks of plastic incapable of sensing explosives, work. 2009: $10m surveillance airship brought to counter insurgents in the south of the country cannot be used because it leaks. Eventually takes to the air but questions persist for years about whether it is even needed.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 07:43:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015