Transnational bribery involving the military has long been an issue, but the recent claim remains unverified pending a thorough investigation. This was the assertion made by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai when addressing a recent allegation that a US company paid kickbacks to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). “Bribery isn’t a new problem for the military. It’s been around for ages,” he commented.
Phumtham admitted he hasn’t delved into the specifics of this latest claim. “I haven’t gotten into the details yet. I’ll look into it later. My current focus is on directing military relief efforts for flood victims in the North and Northeast,” he said.
In the past week, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) pledged to investigate reports that US-based agricultural and construction equipment firm Deere paid bribes to secure contracts with not only the RTAF but also the Department of Highways (DoH) and the Department of Rural Roads. This comes after Deere agreed to pay a hefty sum of US$9.93 million (approximately 336 million baht) to settle charges previously brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They determined that Deere’s Thai subsidiary, Wirtgen Thailand, resorted to bribing state agencies to win procurement contracts.
NACC highlighted that this international bribery case holds significant public interest. The commission is currently in the process of gathering information and coordinating efforts with the US SEC on this matter. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring that both the company and any officials implicated in taking bribes will face prosecution.
RTAF chief ACM Panpakdee Pattanakul acknowledged that the air force is aware of these reports. He noted that the alleged bribes were stated to have been paid between 2019 and 2020.
On Tuesday, Phumtham stated that there are designated agencies responsible for managing corruption cases involving various state officials and individuals in political positions. The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) combats graft among state officials, while the NACC handles corruption among public office holders. Both agencies must be allowed to perform their responsibilities without any interference.
Phumtham assured that the Defence Ministry will address the issue of corruption without meddling in the ongoing investigations. “There are established procedures for that,” he said.
He also expressed uncertainty about whether he would continue with the military procurement projects initiated by his predecessor, Sutin Klungsang. Projects such as those for Gripen fighter jets and submarines will be reviewed after the flooding emergency is under control, he noted.
Can you believe this nonsense? They’re just sweeping it under the rug like always. Typical!
I mean, you’re not wrong. But do we have any proof of this specific bribery case?
Proof or no proof, this kind of stuff has been going on for decades. Corruption is a cancer in the military.
Even if there’s no proof yet, the fact that an investigation is happening is a step in the right direction.
And while they investigate, flood victims are left struggling! How about focusing on the immediate problem?
Fair point, Tanya. Flood relief should be the priority now. But corruption can’t just be ignored either.
It’s hard to trust any investigation when the public officials are probably in on it too.
That’s the problem with systemic corruption, it’s almost impossible to root out because it’s everywhere.
If we don’t trust our institutions, what’s left? Anarchy? We have to start somewhere.
Why not bring in international investigators? Local authorities are too compromised.
Agreed. An impartial third party would be the best, even if it costs more.
But who would pay for that? We can’t just keep throwing money at the problem.
Of course the RTAF denies everything. It’s all a big cover-up.
But why would a company like Deere risk so much to bribe officials in Thailand? Doesn’t make sense.
Big corporations do this all the time, especially in countries where corruption is rampant.
It’s international business; sadly, corruption often greases the wheels.
Every official caught should be thrown in jail. Make an example out of them.
Prison is too easy. They should be fined heavily too.
But will harsh punishments actually deter future corruption?
I’m just glad this is coming to light. Maybe this time something will actually change.
One can hope, but we need systemic change, not just a few scapegoats.
Exactly. The entire culture of corruption needs to change, not just individuals.
Do you guys think this will affect the military’s ability to procure what they need? The floods are no joke.
I’m more concerned about the victims. Corruption or not, these people need help now.
Transparency is key. If investigations are made public, it might deter future corruption.
Totally agree. It’s harder to hide shady dealings when everyone is watching.
Transparency is great in theory, but there are always ways to hide things. It’s human nature.
I find it suspicious that Phumtham hasn’t looked into it yet. What’s he hiding?
He claims he’s focusing on flood relief. Maybe he really is just prioritizing immediate issues over the investigation.
So what happens if they find proof of bribery? Will anyone actually be held accountable?
Hopefully this scandal doesn’t distract from the relief efforts. The floods are devastating.
Even if Phumtham is being honest about his priorities, how can we trust the investigation will be thorough?
The real issue is that bribery and corruption undermine trust in our institutions. That’s a long-term problem.