A former subdistrict chief and another defendant have been sentenced to five years in prison for irregularities in the procurement of overpriced Kinnaree lampposts in Samut Prakan.
The case dates back to 2013, when officials in tambon Racha Thewa of Bang Phli district approved the procurement of solar-powered street lamps topped with mythical Kinnaree figures. Additional sums were approved in 2019 to modify the project.
The public reacted with amazement and outrage when it was learned that a budget of 871 million baht was approved for the project. More than 6,700 lampposts were installed, all from the same company. Subsequent investigations led to about 40 people being charged with various offences.
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases delivered its ruling in the Racha Thewa case on June 23 but it only came to the attention of the media on Monday.
Songchai Nokkhamin, the former president of the Racha Thewa tambon administrative organisation, and nine others were charged with malfeasance, corruption and bid-rigging offences.
The court found Songchai and the second defendant, identified as Wassana, guilty of malfeasance by a public official under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and offences under the 1999 Organic Act on Counter Corruption. Eight co-defendants were acquitted.
Despite all the notoriety its original venture attracted, the Racha Thewa tambon council in June 2021 approved the purchase of another 720 decorative lamps for 68 million baht.
It suspended the project after a fresh wave of public criticism, with many people decrying such a big outlay at a time when the country was in the grip of Covid-19.
Similar projects were subsequently uncovered in other tambons, which finally led to procurement reforms in 2023 aimed at reducing waste and corruption in local government.
