NBTC orders probe into 'fake phone-import documents'
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's telecom committee yesterday instructed the NBTC office to probe the alleged use of fake documents to seek import permits from the watchdog for mobile phones.
The office must complete its investigation within 30 days, said NBTC commissioner Prawit Leesatapornwongsa.
Companies that want to import mobile devices into Thailand need a permit from the NBTC. To obtain this, they must produce a document certifying that the device complies with international standards.
Such documents are issued by internationally certified testing labs to the handset manufacturers.
An NBTC source said the commission had found that the details of some documents did not match those of the labs, and some labs even said they never issued documents to certify some models for which the watchdog has approved import permits.
Clear evidence needed
The NBTC needs clear evidence of fraud before it can revoke the permits it granted for import of the mobile-phone models in question.
The source added that some importers said they had no idea whether the documents were fake, given that they were provided by the handset manufacturers themselves.
