Thailand's Public Relations Chief Charged with Corruption by Phairath Khampha 16 May 2001 The Thai government's public relations chief on May 2, 2001 denied charges of corruption in connection with a 12.9 million baht (1 US Dollar = 45.63 Thai Baht) computer contract. After a two-year probe, the National Counter Corruption Commission found Wirapol Duangsungnoen, the newly appointed director-general of the Public Relations Department, guilty of "being corrupt while performing duties and grave dishonesty," said NCCC secretary-general Klanarong Chantik. The independent commission recommended that the attorney general take legal action against Wirapol, who could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of abuse of office. Choosak Rongsawat, another senior official at the department, could also face prosecution. The corruption commission's finding was an embarrassment to the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who himself faced dismissal if the Constitutional Court were to uphold a finding by the commission that he concealed some of his vast wealth in mandatory asset declarations in 1997. Mr Thaksin's Cabinet promoted Wirapol in the middle of April despite widespread criticism over the official's track record and the fact he was a close aide of a minister to the Prime Minister's Office who proposed Wirapol's appointment. In other words, there was more of the usual corruption, cronyism and nepotism that is standard fare in Thailand's governmental affairs. Wirapol, previously deputy chief at the public relations department that advertises the Thai government's work to the public and media, had been transferred to an inactive post by the previous administration because of the corruption probe against him. The investigation was over a 1999 tender to supply 229 computers to the public relations department. Wirapol is suspected of tampering with an official report into the bidding process. "We've summoned Wirapol to clarify but his explanation wasn't valid," Mr Klanarong, the corruption commission chief, said. "Apart from being corrupt, he also forged papers." Wirapol denied the charges and said he would challenge them in court. "I'm confident what I did wasn't wrong because what I did was in defence of the state. The (computer) project was cancelled altogether. I can't accept the NCCC's ruling because there was no contract signing, no tender," he told a press conference. But this is a standard excuse made by corrupt Thai officials. To get himself out of this scrape he would have to share some of his dishonestly garnered wealth with those who brought the charges. In short time, the Thais will forget the case as it becomes overshadowed by that of another dishonest and greedy person.