Abac university rector cleared of corruption, feud ends

Former rector Bancha cleared of corruption charges, only Saint Gabriel priest to be rector under new rules to end leadership conflicts & university power games.

EDUCATION

Former Abac rector cleared of corruption

11/08/2016
Dumrongkiat Mala

A special panel appointed by the Education Ministry has cleared former Assumption University (Abac) rector Bancha Saenghiran of corruption charges.

The committee, appointed by the Education Ministry, looked into three allegations of corruption but found no irregularities.

The panel was set up six months ago, after the minister of education exercised Section 86 of the Private University Act to set up a special panel to take control of Abac and end a long-running management crisis.

Recently, PM Prime Prayut invoked the sweeping powers of Section 44 to tackle chronic problems in Thailand's universities and colleges including internal conflict on the governing councils of universities as ABAC was suffering from (see here).

IMPROVED RULES & REGULATIONS

"Although we have found some errors in each case, they were simple and inadvertent errors which had nothing to do with Mr Bancha," said Abac acting rector Thanu Kulacholsaid.

The panel also improved some new rules and regulations at the university.

They include a requirement the rector should be a and serve a term of four years.

POWER TO BE RETURNED TO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION NEXT WEEK

The committee plans to return administrative power over Abac to the Saint Gabriel's Foundation, the university's licencee, by next week.

"We expect that the new university council will be set up and have its first meeting to select a new rector next Tuesday," Mr Thanu said.

According to Mr Thanu, the council will consist of 17 members, 11 of whom will be Saint Gabriel's priests, three selected by the ministry and the other two a professional accountant and lawyer.

The list was now complete, Mr Thanu said, adding that the panel was ready to step down once the list had been endorsed by the ministry.

A source said Brother Sirichai Fonseka, now Abac's deputy rector of student affairs, is likely to be selected as new rector by the university council.

RECTOR ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION, THEN ACCUSER TRIES TO BECOME RECTOR

Last year, Mr Sudhiporn accused Mr Bancha of being involved in a plan to develop a flight simulator facility worth 350 million baht,

There were also accusations of 163 secret payments to the media worth a total of 4.42 million baht through Abac Poll and a change in accounting practices at the university.

Mr. Sudhiporn's claims divided the council.

Mr Bancha was then suspended by the council on June 18 last year.

Mr Sudhiporn then claimed the right to take over as rector, but was rejected by opponents.

TURF WAR FOR CONTROL OF ABAC 

In December last year, the conflict at Abac escalated when Mr Sudhiporn, accompanied by 20 men, tried to break open the university's Huamak campus gate.

However, the group was prevented from doing so by security guards hired by Mr Bancha's supporters.

Due to the conflict, banks suspended paying salaries into the accounts of Abac staff as they were not sure who had the power to authorise payments at the university.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1058454/former-abac-rector-cleared-of-corruption

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/658508/fear-and-intimidation-at-assumption-university

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-news/820160/abac-warring-sides-meet-today

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