Aquaculture centre probe results due out today

The Education Ministry will today announce the results of a fact-finding probe into a Songkhla-based aquaculture research centre after 10 years of construction delays pushed the cost up to 1.4 billion baht from 835 million.

Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin yesterday confirmed that he will announce the results of the probe conducted by a fact-finding committee chaired by Karun Sakulpradit, permanent secretary for education.

The press conference is to be held at Tinsulanonda Fisheries College, which was built to honour the former prime minister and privy councillor Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, an esteemed native of the province.

Located in Muang district, the university premises are in the same area as the construction of the statefunded centre.

Dr Teerakiat said the probe would shed light on allegations of irregularities involving officials.

The investigation was launched earlier this year after massive delays had almost doubled original cost estimates and after a contractor had amended a project contract for the sixth time.

The committee has also worked closely with the Office of the AuditorGeneral, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

The construction of Songkhla Lake aquaculture research centre, dubbed Hoi Sang (conch) aquarium, began in 2001 with the opening pencilled in for sometime in 2011.

That deadline has repeatedly been pushed back and the ministry has reportedly struggled to find more funds to complete the project.

The aquarium was developed by Office of The Vocational Education Commission.

The massive delay and rumours of corruption prompted parents of university students to send a petition letter to the education minister in January warning about possible graft.