Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat yesterday denied there were any irregularities in the electric train projects, saying this meant there was no need for an inquiry into the implementation of the projects.
ACM Sukumpol was responding to remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who linked the high-profile robbery of transport permanent secretary Supoj Saplom's home to alleged corruption in Bangkok electric train contracts under the previous Democrat-led government.
The transport minister said there was no evidence to substantiate Mr Chalerm's claims and said that an investigation into the projects was not necessary.
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| At the National Anti-Corruption Commission, questions about all that cash. |
ACM Sukumpol on Monday signed an order establishing an inquiry panel to probe Mr Supoj's alleged unusual wealth.
The panel, headed by PM's Office permanent secretary Thongthong Chandrangsu, will focus on Mr Supoj's alleged unusual wealth and will attempt to trace the source of the money and the exact amount of money he had, ACM Sukumpol said.
Mr Supoj was transferred to an inactive post in the prime minister's office following the Nov 12 robbery of his home.
The suspected burglars earlier told police they took 200 million baht in cash from the house, according to reports, but had seen much more there.
ACM Sukumpol said implementation of the electric train projects was transparent. He would go ahead with those projects despite Mr Chalerm's allegations.
Mr Chalerm earlier told parliament that the cash kept at Mr Supoj's home had come from the Purple Line and Red Line electric railway projects in Bangkok.
He also told reporters that the Nov 12 robbery of Mr Supoj's home was the result of a conflict relating to the construction of the projects.
But ACM Sukumpol said Mr Chalerm's allegations were merely aimed at attacking the previous government and in his opinion there was insufficient evidence to back up his claims.
He expressed confidence that the ministry's dust-free roads project was transparent, saying he had asked the chiefs of the Supoj-helmed Rural Roads and Highways Department, which is in charge of the project, to explain the project and found no graft involved.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he was not worried about Mr Chalerm's threat to dig up alleged irregularities in the electric rail projects during the Democrat-led government.
Mr Abhisit said he would not mind if Mr Chalerm wanted to expose alleged graft in those projects. Everyone must work in a straightforward manner and be ready to come under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau commander Winai Thongsong said police were stepping up the hunt for the gang leader and two other suspects in the Supoj robbery still at large.
Weerasak Chualee, 36, the alleged leader, has reportedly fled to Laos and the two other suspects are believed to be in hiding along the Thai-Burmese border, Pol Lt Gen Winai said.
Eight of the 11 people involved in the robbery have been arrested, he said.
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