Pipat Demands Explanation from Three Transport Agencies Over Bribery Allegations
Transport Minister Pipat summoned heads of the Port Authority, Department of Highways, and Department of Land Transport after a corruption survey ranked them among Thailand's top bribery-receiving agencies, vowing to investigate if allegati
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn disclosed on May 15, 2569 at the PAT Arena that a Zero Corruption survey by a private-public committee has ranked the Port Authority and Department of Highways among the nation's top 10 state agencies receiving the highest bribes, with the Department of Land Transport also appearing in the top 10 for bribery offers. Pipat emphasized his consistent commitment to transparency across all Transport Ministry units regarding procurement, administrative management, and overall operations, anchored in good governance principles.
Pipat announced he will summon the directors and executives of the implicated agencies to clarify the facts and determine whether the allegations have merit. If confirmed, he indicated an investigation committee may be established, though he acknowledged just learning of the survey results. He delegated the Transport Ministry's Permanent Secretary to verify the data's accuracy before deciding whether to investigate only the three named agencies or expand the probe ministry-wide, cautioning that the information could be unsubstantiated rumors or factual concerns requiring thorough examination.
Assistant Transport Minister Somphet Bunyamani revealed the Port Authority ranked second among the top 10 agencies with an average bribe value of 100,000 baht per incident. He stated he recently received the report and needs to examine its methodology, sample size, number of cases, and data reliability in detail. He confirmed the Port Authority director will investigate processes to verify accuracy and reliability while emphasizing good governance.
Somphet noted that while the Transport Ministry has internal inspection systems and welcomes private sector and public oversight to enhance government transparency, final conclusions must align with facts and regulations. He emphasized the need to consider case numbers and sample accuracy, and assured that fair treatment will be given to officials. He disclosed the Port Authority is developing a technology system allowing citizens to file complaints directly without going through lower-level channels, aimed at cutting through bureaucratic discretion and complexity for greater transparency.
