New kickback rate of 41%
By Bangkok Pundit Feb 08, 2010 6:30PM UTCThe Bangkok Post:
A multi-billion-baht convention centre planned for Phuket under the Thai Khem Khaeng investment programme has been stalled amid corruption allegations, according to Finance Ministry officials.
Designers and architects bidding for the project have allegedly been asked for kickbacks as high as 41% from state officials.
A total of 2.6 billion baht has been allocated to the project, with one educational institution awarded 100 million baht to develop designs for the new international centre.
But sources said that local politicians with interests in the project demanded kickbacks of as much as 45% for the contract. Final “tea money” payments were settled at 41 million baht, or 41%, for the deal.
BP: So what party are those local politicians from? From one certain party *cough* Democrats *cough* who dominate the South?



