Bangkok's Councillors Siphon and Steal 900 Million by Phairath Khampha 19 June 2002 Municipal councillors were on June 11, 2002 accused of siphoning off at least 900 million baht (1 US Dollar = 42.37 Thai Baht) in funds from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) development fund into their own pockets each year. The allegation was raised at a Thammasat University seminar entitled How Municipal Councillors Make Bangkok a Pleasant Place to Live, which was attended by political party members. Yenchit Thanatatkamthorn, a representative of the Prachakorn Thai Party, said in eight years of having municipal and district councillors, the BMA had lost millions due to corruption. "Each of them suck at least 15 million baht in funds from the BMA and with 60 of them this totals 900 million baht per year. They purchase supplies like stone benches and fire extinguishers at prices inflated by 15 to 30 per cent,'' Yenchit said. To solve the problem, the BMA should not allocate development funds to the councillors, who should simply having the role of advisers to the authority. A lot of funds were also wasted through overseas trips and similar junkets by municipal and district councillors, the seminar was told. It was recommended that the BMA should limit overseas visits to one per person per year.