Panel to assess SSO project after corruption ruling

A Bt2.3billion computer and database project for the Social Security Office (SSO) will be thoroughly scrutinised before it progresses further, following a ruling on Wednesday indicting a former SSO chief for corruption for approving the deal.

Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong, who supervises the SSO, said although the project cost had been reduced from an original Bt2.8 billion, and the project was downsized, he still needed to know in legal terms whether the SSO could go ahead with it without facing possible problems in the future.

The minister said he ordered a committee to be set up, and chaired by permanent secretary Somchai Chumrat, to look into the project. The database was planned to store profiles of the SSO's 9.3 million beneficiaries.

The results of the probe would be submitted to Parliament, after the opposition requested this last night.

Incumbent SSO secretarygeneral Pan Wanwinij said the indictment by the National AntiCorruption Commission should not affect the project, because it had been reduced after a recommendation by the Council of State and also a guarฌantee by the Attorney General's office.

Pan said he sympathised with his predecessor Phairoj Suksamrit, because the NACC indictment stressed Phairoj's roles in studying and approving the project while failing to look at earlier processes, including the bidding, selection and the questionable medium project cost.