Probe finds road is substandard

CHERNG TALAY: The committee investigating the 4-million-baht road fiasco in Moo 2 Cherng Talay, today dug up the road in question and announced that accusations that the road is shoddy are well-founded. Committee chairman and Thalang District Chief Kanthee Silapa announced the findings after a three-hour meeting at the Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) offices. Although invited, neither the road contractor, Jor94 Partnership, nor the Cherng Talay OrBorTor President, Siri Yokthong, attended the meeting. While committee members discussed the issue indoors, about 150 protestors gathered outside and held up protest signs, some of which accused the OrBorTor of corruption. The meeting closed at 2pm, when provincial government civil engineers led the committee to the site where they tested the road’s composition and structure, and found it to be substandard. K. Khantee explained that the committee will report its findings to Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi tomorrow. He added, “The road will be fixed by the contractor [who built it].” He also said that he will investigate the actions of three Cherng Talay OrBorTor engineers and the local palad, Dechakanee Leelanont. Cherng Talay OrBorTor member and protest leader Ma’an Samran gave reporters copies of a petition that will be sent to Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon and to Gov Pongpayome. He added that the petition will be accompanied with photos of the road and details of the whole affair.