Chadchart disagreed with Suphanat, confirming he signed the formation of an internal committee within one week after receiving the complaint. He sent the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for investigation from the beginning and noted that the 600 baht salary deduction is only the result of an initial disciplinary process, not the final conclusion of the case. He declared his willingness to take responsibility after his team was perceived as lacking integrity. ','tags':['Chadchart','Suphanat','disciplinary process','salary deduction','NACC','Bangkok']},{
On 9 June 2026, Mr. Chadchart Sitthiphan, former Governor of Bangkok and independent candidate for the Bangkok Governor election, held a press conference to clarify allegations related to Bangkok's procurement of exercise equipment. This followed Mr. Suphanat Meenachainan, or MP Bank, a member of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council from the Prachachon Party, who posted information on Facebook marking the 2nd anniversary of exposing the project. He stated that the serious disciplinary investigation committee appointed by Bangkok had investigated 32 officials involved, concluding that 20 were found not guilty, while 12 were guilty of minor disciplinary offenses and penalized with a 2% salary deduction, approximately 600 baht per person. ','tags':['Chadchart Sitthiphan','Bangkok Governor','Suphanat Meenachainan','exercise equipment project','disciplinary investigation','salary deduction']},{
Mr. Chadchart said the case is not yet concluded as reported, since it is still under review by the Bangkok Civil Service Commission (CSC), which has ordered a reconsideration of the penalty. Additionally, issues of civil liability and claims for damages remain unresolved, as does the ongoing investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). ','tags':['Chadchart','Bangkok Civil Service Commission','NACC','disciplinary case','ongoing investigation']},{
Mr. Chadchart explained that upon receiving information about the project in 2024, Bangkok followed procedures by first investigating the facts. They found sufficient grounds to form a serious disciplinary investigation committee to examine the involved parties, including several senior officials. This case significantly impacted Bangkok's civil service system. ','tags':['Chadchart','Bangkok','investigation','disciplinary committee','senior officials','civil service']},{
Mr. Chadchart noted the disciplinary investigation process took considerable time due to committee changes amid retirements and expanded inquiries. However, when the initial investigation results were presented, he felt the findings and penalties did not align with the facts or public sentiment, so he ordered a review and further investigation. ','tags':['Chadchart','disciplinary investigation','committee changes','penalties','review']},{
After the disciplinary committee reaffirmed its original findings, Bangkok submitted the matter to the Bangkok Civil Service Commission (CSC), the highest authority for disciplinary decisions regarding Bangkok officials. The CSC recommended further investigation due to unresolved factual issues needing additional verification. ','tags':['Bangkok Civil Service Commission','disciplinary committee','investigation','officials','further review']},{
“This matter is not over. The reported salary deductions are not the final verdict. I disagree with the investigation findings and penalties, so I ordered multiple reviews. When the committee maintained its original results, I referred the case to the CSC, which also recommended additional investigation,” Mr. Chadchart said. ','tags':['Chadchart','salary deduction','investigation','Bangkok Civil Service Commission','disciplinary process']},{
Regarding public criticism of the mere 2% salary deduction (about 600 baht), Mr. Chadchart stated that his objection was not solely about the amount but the overall investigation process and findings, which he deemed insufficiently conclusive. Therefore, he ordered a complete review. ','tags':['Chadchart','salary deduction','public criticism','investigation process','review']},{
Ms. Tawida Kamolwet, former Deputy Governor of Bangkok, said the then-Governor had a clear anti-corruption policy. Upon receiving complaints about seven projects on 7 June 2024, she promptly ordered the cases to be handled by Bangkok’s Anti-Corruption Center and appointed a fact-finding committee within just one week. ','tags':['Tawida Kamolwet','Deputy Governor','anti-corruption','complaints','fact-finding committee','Bangkok']},{
Ms. Tawida noted that by 6 December 2024, the serious disciplinary investigation committee had submitted preliminary findings, marking a swift process by bureaucratic standards. The Governor at the time exercised authority to order a review of the results, disagreeing with the initial conclusions. ','tags':['Tawida Kamolwet','disciplinary investigation','Bangkok Governor','review order','bureaucracy']},{
Ms. Tawida explained that the salary deduction penalty was not arbitrarily set but followed clear civil service disciplinary rules that specify offenses and corresponding sanctions. However, if further investigations uncover new facts or if the NACC later finds wrongdoing, more severe penalties could be imposed, including demotion, dismissal, or termination. ','tags':['Tawida Kamolwet','salary deduction','civil service rules','NACC','penalties']},{
Mr. Chadchart emphasized that Bangkok referred the case to the NACC from the beginning, since the NACC has broader authority to investigate financial trails and expand inquiries beyond what disciplinary investigations can cover, which focus only on official duties and adherence to regulations. He added that Bangkok did not only investigate seven projects but is responsible for examining all 24 related projects. Initially, they prioritized the seven projects with clear complaints to enable expanding scrutiny to others with similar patterns. ','tags':['Chadchart','NACC','Bangkok','investigation','financial trails','projects']},{
Regarding questions about why a new investigation committee was not appointed after the original committee upheld its findings, Mr. Chadchart said appointing a new committee would cause significant delays because new members would need to study all documents from scratch. He viewed referring the case to the Bangkok Civil Service Commission (CSC), the highest authority on disciplinary matters, as a more appropriate and faster approach, despite criticism about the length of the process. ','tags':['Chadchart','investigation committee','Bangkok Civil Service Commission','process delay','disciplinary case']},{
Mr. Chadchart said Bangkok's investigation is only a disciplinary inquiry within its jurisdiction, while the NACC has greater authority and capacity for investigation, including tracing financial transactions, expanding to related individuals or private entities, and gathering in-depth evidence. Therefore, the case was sent to the NACC from the start to ensure comprehensive scrutiny and accountability if clear evidence emerges. ','tags':['Chadchart','Bangkok','NACC','investigation','financial tracing','accountability']},{
Furthermore, Mr. Chadchart stated that the incident prompted Bangkok to improve multiple operational aspects, including coordination with anti-corruption agencies, enhancing budget proposal processes with more detailed data to reduce price inflation loopholes, and refining disciplinary investigation procedures to be faster, more transparent, and more verifiable. ','tags':['Chadchart','Bangkok','operational improvements','anti-corruption','budget process','disciplinary procedures']},{
Regarding allegations of specification rigging in procurement via the e-bidding system, Mr. Chadchart said the system already includes internal checks. It allows businesses or stakeholders to file complaints if they suspect inappropriate specification setting or unfair median pricing. He emphasized that setting realistic median prices is a key factor in preventing corruption. ','tags':['Chadchart','procurement','e-bidding','specification rigging','median pricing','corruption prevention']},{
On observations that most corruption exposures in Bangkok come from external sources, Mr. Chadchart said uncovering corruption often requires information or tips from complainants before authorities can investigate and expand inquiries. He affirmed that Bangkok has disciplined many officials over time, including cases leading to dismissals. ','tags':['Chadchart','corruption exposure','external sources','complainants','disciplinary actions','Bangkok']},{
Mr. Chadchart affirmed that Bangkok has never tolerated corruption and seriously investigates every tip or lead received. Throughout his administration, many officials have faced disciplinary actions, including dismissal, when clear evidence was found. He reiterated that the exercise equipment procurement case is one such case that Bangkok has actively investigated since the complaint and promptly involved external authorities like the NACC. ','tags':['Chadchart','Bangkok','anti-corruption','disciplinary actions','NACC','procurement case']},{
In closing, Mr. Chadchart stressed that regardless of election outcomes, the investigation into the exercise equipment procurement must proceed to completion—both through the Bangkok Civil Service Commission and the NACC inquiry. He welcomed discussion of corruption issues during elections as positive, highlighting it as a critical problem requiring ongoing multi-sector attention and sustained efforts for long-term solutions. ','tags':['Chadchart','election','procurement investigation','Bangkok Civil Service Commission','NACC','corruption discussion']},{
. ','tags':[]},{ Mr. Chadchart said, “During these two weeks of campaigning, I have encountered the same issues repeatedly. I try to focus on policy during the campaign, but as a candidate, I must respond to the public and find opportunities to explain each matter. In the remaining 20 days, I will seek opportunities to present policies to the public. Regarding the accusations, I will try to clarify them, and I believe that if issues had been present during my four years, they would have surfaced earlier. So, now I must explain according to the situation.” ','tags':['Chadchart','campaign','policy','public explanation','accusations']},{
. ','tags':[]},{ Mr. Chadchart also said, “I am disgusted by corruption, and I cannot accept being accused of corruption myself.” ','tags':['Chadchart','corruption','accusations','disgust']},{ Regarding seriousness in anti-corruption efforts, he acknowledged challenges and admitted the need for improvements. ','tags':['Chadchart','anti-corruption','challenges','improvements']},{
When reporters asked about Mr. Suphanat’s remark that no matter how well Chadchart works, his team may not be as honest as people assume, Chadchart responded: ','tags':['Chadchart','Suphanat','team integrity','question']},{ “I take responsibility for everyone. I am the team leader, and all team members are dedicated. If there are problems, I take responsibility. If anyone is not honest, I will not tolerate it; they must be removed because I am fully responsible.” ','tags':['Chadchart','team leadership','responsibility','integrity','accountability']},{
Before ending the press conference, Mr. Chadchart jokingly asked Ms. Tawida, “Is your face clear?” to which Ms. Tawida replied, ','tags':['Chadchart','Tawida Kamolwet','press conference','joke']},{ “My face is clear already.” ','tags':['Tawida Kamolwet','response','joke','press conference'] }]}