The army will unveil Fridzay the results of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the construction of Rajabhakti Park amid speculation the findings will be "favourable" to Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr.
Army commander Gen Theerachai Nakvanich said he will hold a press conference to reveal the army's findings after the panel set up to look into the matter had finished its probe.
The army chief had appointed Gen Veerun Chantasatkosol, who is chairman of the army's advisory board, to lead the internal investigation. The panel was given seven days to finish its inquiry. It started work last Friday, and the deadline is Friday.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has also launched a separate investigation into alleged irregularities in the project.
The army's report will apparently clear former army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr (left), Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and chief Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.
A military source said the army panel's findings are expected to put military personnel suspected of involvement in the alleged irregularities in the clear.
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In particular, the source said, the probe results are expected to be favourable to Gen Udomdej, who is chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, which is responsible for building and managing the park.
The source said the army's internal probe had focused only on military personnel, while the army had no authority to investigate civilians over the matter.
The Rajabhakti Park construction project was initiated by the army under the leadership of Gen Udomdej, who was the army chief at the time.
The park -- which has seven giant statues of former kings and is located on army land in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin -- has come under intense public scrutiny after accusations of corruption surfaced.
Col Khachachart Boondee, also known as Seh Jo, of the 3rd Army Region, faces an arrest warrant for his role in Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sucharitpolwong's alleged lese majeste network and is also suspected to be linked to the park project.
Col Khachachart, who has been dismissed from the army, is said to have fled across the border into Myanmar via Tak's Mae Sot district earlier this month.
Gen Udomdej has admitted that a well-known amulet trader had cited "people in authority" to demand commission fees from statue foundries, but he sent an army officer to ask him to return the money to the foundry owners.
A source said the officer was actually Col Khachachart, who was Gen Udomdej's close aide.
However, the money was not returned to the foundries as intended, but was diverted to the army as "donations", the source said. (Story continues below)
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Thursday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had stressed that if the army's probe implicates anyone, they must face legal and disciplinary action.
Even though the government is not directly responsible for the construction of the park, it feels obliged to ensure investigations in the case are transparent, he said.
The government is duty-bound to set a standard in anti-corruption efforts, Maj Gen Sansern said.
Also Thursday, the Pheu Thai Party stepped up its criticism of the government's handling of the Rajabhakti Park scandal, demanding Gen Prayut and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon take responsibility for the alleged corruption in the project.
In its statement, the party alleged that a senior government figure -- believed to be Gen Prawit -- was ducking responsibility for the scandal and shifting blame to the army, which spearheaded funding and construction of the attraction.
Pheu Thai said the cabinet had approved the Defence Ministry's proposal that the army take the lead in construction and would receive government funding if donations for the project fell short of costs.
In light of this, the Rajabhakti Park project came under the responsibility of the government from the beginning, Pheu Thai said.
It also said that Gen Prawit, who is also a deputy prime minister, had been responsible for proposing the project for cabinet approval.
The party also noted the park sits on army land and donations were received by the army's directorate of civil affairs. Thus the park and donations should be considered state property.
As such, Pheu Thai claimed the government should be responsible for investigating and identifying wrongdoers instead of the army, it said in the statement.
It alleged that corruption did occur, as Gen Udomdej had already admitted that bribes were paid during the initial stages of development. Pheu Thai said Gen Udomdej's superiors, including Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit, who are political-office holders, should take responsibility under the Prime Minister's Office's moral code for politicians.
The party urged the government to answer questions about suspected irregularities in the project because it had stirred considerable public concern.
Ruengkrai Leekitwattana, a member of Pheu Thai's legal team, said Thursday he had petitioned the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the army's bank account set up to receive donations to fund the park's construction.
He said he wanted the auditor-general to probe whether the donations were in compliance with the Finance Ministry's regulations governing public donations given to the state.
Anti-coup activists of the New Democracy Movement protested at the Defence Ministry Thursday, and handed over a letter calling for serious efforts to combat corruption in the armed forces, including construction of Rajabhakti Park and procurement of weapons. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
