Lottery spending legal: TRT
The Thaksin Shinawatra government spent the proceeds from the two- and three-digit lotteries for the public good, and although the Cabinet resolution didn't conform with the law, there was no penalty addressed by the law, acting Thai Rak Thai Party leader Chaturon Chaisang said yesterday.
He said the suspension of the lotteries had hurt projects for underprivileged children and the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) should scrutinise the Surayud Chulanont government for denying children better opportunities.Speaking after meeting an AEC panel headed by Udom Fuangfung, Chaturon said allegations of illegal spending might relate to money from other lotteries, which the committee should have investigated. As the former deputy premier responsible for assistance to underprivileged children, he said the spending of lottery income was 100 per cent legal. A total of Bt13 billion was given to 1.3 million poor, homeless and underprivileged children as scholarships. There were no irregularities in the spending, he said. Although it wasn't passed as part of the budget bill, the money was legal because it belonged to the Government Lottery Office (GLO). Udom said he would have to discuss with the committee again whether to investigate spending of money from other lotteries. Bancha Khaengkhan The Nation
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