Anti-Corruption Office Probes High-Cost Smart Streetlights Failing After 3 Years
The Sakon Nakhon Anti-Corruption Office is investigating a 70,000-baht smart streetlight project after units failed within three years, with inspections revealing damaged and non-functional poles in the municipality area.
On September 3, the Sakon Nakhon Provincial Anti-Corruption Office conducted an inspection of a streetlight installation project featuring high-cost innovative poles at 70,000 baht each, following reports on social media that the lights had deteriorated and failed after just three years of operation. Premajit Chaemchaidi, director of the Sakon Nakhon Anti-Corruption Office, deployed a task force to investigate the facts and protect public spending. The inspection covered 31 streetlights in the Saon Doen Din Municipality project area at Ban Kok Saon, Tambon Saon Doen Din, and found irregularities including four poles that were damaged and non-functional. The anti-corruption office has instructed relevant agencies to urgently address the immediate problem and conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes and defects, with measures to be taken and accountability applied if corruption is found. Given that public spending on high-cost innovation projects must represent good value and maximum benefit to the public, the office is conducting strict multi-dimensional oversight to ensure transparency.
