NACC puts off 3G probe findings

Methee Klongkaew, chairman of the investigation committee under the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said some panel members need two more weeks to scrutinise the deals, especially in regards to the Public-Private Joint Venture Act.
The panel also needs to ask the Finance Ministry if the deals comply with the act and to ask the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) if the deals breach the Frequency Allocation Act.
Another committee, set up by the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, recently found five irregularities in the making of the deals. It forwarded its report to the NACC for further inquiry, which also had its committee probe the deals.
Earlier the Senate good governance and anti-corruption committee resolved that the deals appear to violate the Frequency Allocation Act.
The NBTC has set up its own panel to probe the deals but the panel has yet to convene on the matter. CAT CEO Kittisak Sriprasert said the case should be made clear as soon as possible so that CAT knows how to proceed.
The deals signed by CAT and True’s subsidiaries Real Move and Real Future in January last year have drawn the scrutiny of many authorities over their legal status.
Under the deals, CAT wholesaled its 3G bandwidth to Real Move, which provides the service under the TrueMove H brand. CAT also offers a 3G retail service on a post-paid basis under its own My brand, which now has 15,000 customers.
This week CAT’s labour union circulated open letters to staff and ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap saying the deals were made in accordance with laws and regulations.
True executives have also reaffirmed that the deals followed all laws and regulations.