AWOL 2015 Issue 353 13th November

Your free weekly newspaper since 2008 Local Information issue 3 53 13 November 2015 Property To Hull And Back Area 555 Dynamic Duo giant Victor’s graft? open 24/7 Wide range of rooms in the heart of Hua Hin a/c, lcd tv, dvd player, fridge, free premium wifi, cable TV scandal over Rajabhakti Park hua hin, THAILAND Accusations regarding corruption in the construction of the giant statues placed in the recently opened Rajabhakti Park just south of the centre of Hua Hin have been vigorously denied by former Army Chief and current Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr, while at the same time investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau are looking into possible irregularities in the army’s one-billion-baht project. “The project was implemented transparently. There were no irregularities in the work,” Sitabutr was reported as saying Tuesday. “Some people asked for commission fees from the owners of factories which cast the statues,” he said. “When we discovered this, we returned the money to the factory owners, but they decided to donate the money as charity.” This followed comments by deputy police spokesman Maj General Piyaphan Pingmuang who told media on Monday that an investigation was ongoing to determine whether Pol Colonel Kachachart Boondee, who is facing an arrest warrant over lese-majeste charges, was involved in the alleged irregularities in the Rajabhakti Park project. Several news outlets reported that police suspected a military officer of having appropriated 20 to 30 million baht from the project, and one identified Boondee. General Udomdej, who chaired the Rajabhakti Park Foundation when he was army chief, said the park had been developed with the sincere intention of making it a national treasure, but declined to comment on Colonel Boondee, who is said to have illegally crossed into Myanmar from Mae Hong Song on November 1st. Thai authorities have already asked Myanmar to deport him. [email protected] 032 511564 60 Naresdamri Road, Hua Hin GET RACING FROM ONLY 400 BAHT! OPEN EVERYDAY 10.30AM - 7PM, LATE NIGHT BY APPOINTMENT Call 032 547 199 (Office) or 081 817 3000 (Mobile) Soi 2, Phetchkasem Road opposite Hua Hin Airport www.gokarthuahin.com