Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has said there will be a probe into the purchase of an alleged overpriced audio system for the Cabinet's meeting room.
Prayuth yesterday urged the public not to make a premature judgement on the matter and to be patient while waiting for the results of the investigation.
His remarks came as a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Vicha Mahakun, sarcastically labelled the audio system as being in the "heavenly realm" because of the price.
The NACC will investigate the matter too, said Vicha, adding that a working time frame had not yet been established as it depended on the validity of the allegation.
Prayuth's remarks followed days of public outcry over the purchase of 89 microphones that come with LCD (liquid crystal display) screens. They were installed in Government House's Cabinet meeting room after being quoted at Bt145,000 each.
He urged the public to think positively as he stated his case at length.
"Let us look at it in a good way. If you say there was an intention [to cheat], then I don't think that's the case," he said.
"Do you really know what it's really all about? I don't. But I will probe it. We will probe all such cases, don't worry.
"Be patient. Don't pressure us. Don't judge things by yourself. Let the [investigation] committee make the judgement. Let the agency scrutinise it and the prime minister will have to take care of it.
"We have said we don't want to see corruption, and the people must have trust in our work. That's all. We're careful with every step we take but I must say that many people were involved [in the procurement of the sound system], so we must examine where it went right or wrong."
Vicha criticised the purchase during a public lecture on fighting corruption and its link to laws and the economy.
He said everyone knew the market price and he called for transparency.
"It's microphones for use in the heavenly realm because of the price that we learned about," he said.
On a more general note, Vicha blamed the powerful and wealthy for maintaining a culture of corruption in society.
He said Thailand would continue to be trapped in that culture for as long as laws were not applied equally to everyone.
He cited rich motorists who got off traffic fines by flashing the name card of an influential person while ordinary motorists had to pay a fine.
Vicha urged both the state and private sectors to be transparent so people would not doubt them.